Eruption of the Shiveluch volcano has begun on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the local branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN) reported.
      
      According to the service experts, “A strong seismic event that continued for about half an hour” was registered on the volcano early on Tuesday. It was accompanied by spew of ash from the volcano crater and volcanic rock descent from the slopes.
      
      According to data obtained from satellites, the volcano has spewed a cloud of ash to a height of about six kilometres. The plume moved to the north at a distance of 100 kilometres. An avalanche came down on the volcano slope along the Baidarnaya River bed. There has been no damage and threat to nearby settlements. The nearest populated locality - Klyuchi is located 50 kilometres from the volcano.
      
      Shiveluch is one of the most active Kamchatka volcanoes. It is 3,283 metres high. Its eruptions are of explosive nature and are difficult to forecast. The volcano’s preceding eruption was registered in September 2005.
      
      ITAR-TASS