Volcano Becomes Active In Kamchatka
 

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, December 28 (RIA Novosti, Oksana Guseva) - Ashes are ejected from the crater of the Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka to a height of up to 2,000 m.

As RIA Novosti was told on Tuesday at the Kamchatka experimental-methodological seismologic expedition, a column of gas and ashes rose to such a height at 12.39 Moscow time. The height of the ejection above sea level exceeded 5,000 m.

The seismic stations near the volcano register underground tremors from a depth of up to 5,000 m and interrupted spasmodic volcanic vibration.

For the greater part of the past 24 hours it was impossible to conduct video observation of Shiveluch because of bad weather but scientists hold the view that some ejections are accompanied by fragmentation avalanches.

Shiveluch (its height is 3,283 m) is now at the stage of active eruption. Powerful intensification of the eruption was noted on May 10. The height of the ejections of ashes reached 10,000 m over the crater, and red-hot fragmentation avalanches went down from the volcano's slopes. The Emergencies Ministry regional directorate closed the volcano and nearby territory for visits.

The volcano is not dangerous to the populated areas of the peninsula now, but the ejections of ashes and trains seriously endanger the tourists, fishermen and hunters staying in the volcano area, hamper navigation, and pose a threat to aviation. Particles of the volcanic ashes can get into the turbines of aircraft and cause major technical malfunctions.

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If the world ends, I hope it waits until after the Player's Ball