In Russia’s remote Far East, the Klyuchevskoy volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula is displaying a dramatic show of force more than a month into its latest eruption. Scientists from the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology have reported a significant development: the formation of a new eruptive cone within the volcano’s main crater, which has now become the epicenter of the ongoing activity, continuously spewing ash and volcanic bombs into the atmosphere.
The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) described the activity as “Strombolian,” a type of eruption characterized by frequent, moderate bursts of incandescent lava. According to their reports, the vast crater is now nearly brimming with molten rock, raising expectations that significant lava flows could begin cascading down the volcano’s slopes at any moment, reshaping the landscape of one of the planet’s most active volcanic regions.
In response to the escalating activity, authorities have issued an “Orange” aviation color code, signaling a heightened potential for eruption with a risk of minor ash emissions that could pose a hazard to aircraft. While officials have clarified that major international flight routes do not pass directly over the volcano, the alert serves as a critical precaution for regional air traffic and stands as a reminder of how localized geological events can have broader logistical implications.
Klyuchevskoy, standing at an impressive 4,850 meters (15,912 feet), is not only the highest active volcano in Eurasia but also one of the most active in the world. Located approximately 360 kilometers from the regional capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, its powerful eruptions are a regular feature in this sparsely populated, geologically dynamic corner of the globe, with the nearest settlement, the town of Klyuchi, situated just 30 kilometers from its summit.