NATURAL EVENTS

The Shiveluch volcano scares Russia: entire villages submerged in ash

One of Russia's most active volcanoes exploded, sending a vast cloud of ash high into the sky and smothering villages in piles of grey volcanic dust. Day turned practically into night as ash rose 12 miles (19 kilometres) above the Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia's far east.

The eruption took place shortly after midnight and reached a crescendo about six hours later when an ash plume settled over an area of 41,700 square miles (108,000 square kilometres), an area larger than Scotland and Wales combined.

Lava flows fell from the volcano, melting snow and causing a sequence of mudslides along a nearby highway as villages were covered in mounds of grey ash up to 3.3 inches (8.5 cm) deep, the deepest in 60 years.

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We are in Russia
One of Russia's most active volcanoes, Shiveluch, erupted, launching a vast ash cloud high into the sky and smothering villages in piles of gray volcanic dust. The eruption took place shortly after midnight reaching a crescendo about six hours later.
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Ash cloud at 12 miles high
Ash rose 12 miles (19 kilometers) above the Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's far east. Day turned practically into night as the ash rose.
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The area affected by the eruption
An ash plume has settled over an area of 41,700 square miles (108,000 square kilometers), an area larger than Scotland and Wales combined. Villages were hit by mounds of gray ash up to 3.3 inches (8.5 cm) deep, the deepest in 60 years.
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Lava flows and mud
Lava flows fell from the volcano, melting snow and causing a sequence of mudslides along a nearby highway. Villages were literally covered with piles of gray ash.
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Consequences of the eruption
A climatologist has warned that the eruption could have even more severe consequences than Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland in 2010, which caused the largest aviation disruption since World War II. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) issued a red alert for aviation, saying that "the ongoing activity could affect international and low-altitude aircraft."
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Schools closed and residents at home
Some schools on the Kamchatka Peninsula have been closed and residents have been ordered to stay indoors. The head of the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal region Oleg Bondarenko reported the news.
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Aviation warning
The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) has issued a "red" warning for aviation, stating that "ongoing activity could affect international and low-altitude aircraft." The volcano eruption could also affect international air traffic.
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