Scientists say the eruption of a volcano on the sparsely populated Kamchatka Peninsula has probably sent plumes of ash thousands of meters (feet) high and could affect any aircraft in the area.
The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team says seismic data indicate the Sheveluch volcano erupted with "strong explosions" on Thursday and that increased activity persisted. It said the volcano was obscured by clouds but that ash plumes likely rose as high as 15,000 meters (50,000 feet).
A report on the center's Web site late Friday said the volcano had calmed down somewhat.
Kamchatka juts into the Pacific and is studded with active volcanoes.
The monitoring center says Sheveluch has experienced several "paroxysmal explosive eruptions" in the past decade.
