Hot ash tumbled down the mountain's southeastern slope as Bezymianny showed its power.
'I went out and saw that the volcano erupted.' Picture: Volkstat.ru
The Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka spewed ash to a height of 17 kilometres above sea level, presaging a new eruption, its third this year, reported the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
A rash of seismic activity was registered on 17 December before the eruption a day later. Bezymianny literally means 'no name', yet it is currently one of the planet’s most active volcanoes.
An academic interrupted a meeting after he 'heard some rumbles'.
Its third this year, reported the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Pictures: Volkstat.ru
He said: 'I went out and saw that the volcano erupted. And now the ash emissions can be seen. It is likely that there will be ash-fall tomorrow. And maybe even today.'
The emissions were seen as the largest since 2006. The settlements of Klyuchi and Ust-Kamchatsky were at risk.
Ash cloud seen over Klyuchi settlement. @catharina_brazhnik
The volcano burst back into life in 1955 having been dormant for a millennium. Previous eruptions in 2017 were in March and June.
The 2.882 metre peak is in Kamchatka - known as Russia’s land of Fire and Ice - due to its prolific volcanoes and glaciers.
The volcano has been monitored daily since 1992. There were 44 strong eruptions between 1965 and 2012.
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