Shiveluch volcano erupts in northern Russia

A volcano in northern Russia has erupted, and is churning out ash to a height of 10,000 metres, scientists said today.

A volcano in northern Russia has erupted, and is churning out ash to a height of 10,000 metres, scientists said on Friday.

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The 3,283-metre Shiveluch volcano increased activity in May 2009 and has been periodically spewing ash from three to eight kilometres.

"Low clouds prevent us from getting a clear visual of the event, but our seismic data indicates that Shiveluch has churned out ash plumes to a height of up to 10,000 metres," said an official at the Far Eastern Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Scientists said that the volcanic activity over the past two-three years has altered the contour of the volcano, with the crater increasing in size by nearly 50% and the slopes becoming far steeper than before.

The current eruption poses no immediate threat to nearby settlements. But the ash fallouts could be hazardous to health and the environment.