Eurasia's highest volcano active again in Russia's Far East

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AFP) Aug 28, 2003
Eurasia's highest volcano, the Sopka Klyuchevskaya on Russia's fareastern Kamchatka peninsula, has become active again, firing plumes of ash and debris into the air, scientists with the local branch of the Russian Academy of Science said Thursday.

A plume of steam has been observed up to 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) over the crater of the volcano, which towers at 4,750 meters (15,584 feet) above sea level.

This activity, which was observed for the first time since 1993, suggests that an eruption could soon follow, scientists with the Academy's Volcanologic and Seismologic Survey Service added.

However, surrounding villages, none of which are less than 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the volcano, are not under threat, Kamchatka's rescuers service said.

Meanwhile, a Russian alpinist climbing the Sopka Klyuchevskaya was killed early Thursday in yet unclear circumstances, in the second such incident in two weeks, a spokesman for the local police said.

A Czech climber was killed by rocks falling from the volcano two weeks ago.

TERRA.WIRE