A major volcanic eruption in the "Ring of Fire" along the Pacific Ocean on Friday resulted in volcanic ash rising to an altitude used by commercial aviation, causing authorities to issue a notice advising aircraft to evaluate their flight paths.The explosion occurred on Bezymianny volcano at 05:38 on April 7th, in the Kamchatka peninsula of far-eastern Russia. The resulting activity has prompted the Federal Agency for Air Transport, Rosaviatsiya, to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and raise the aviation Color Code Red. The hazard classification is the highest on the International Civil Aviation Organization's scale due to the active threat of volcanic activity posing a danger to domestic and international flights.

How significant was the disruption?

According to local and international sources, the Bezymianny volcano on the east of the peninsula and one of the most active in the area erupted on Friday morning. The resulting column of ash billowed to a height of 12,000 meters (39,000 feet) and slowly began to drift toward the southeast. The ash plume stretched out across a distance of 2,000 km before eventually dissipating into the atmosphere.

Read all about how volcanic ash affects aviation in our guide here.

The NOTAM issued by Russia's flight authorities advised pilots to "take into account the peculiarities of this natural phenomenon" and "suggest using alternative routes" when flying over this region. Flights passing through the area were able to continue their journeys with caution. At least 23 aircraft from China, India, and other South Asian nations headed for North America or back were allowed to pass through the area in coordination with local officials.

Significant volcanic activity at the site has been intensifying for several days. March 29th saw a series of eruptions ejecting ash up 20,000 feet above sea level before drifting East. A further minor blast occurred on April 2nd, with ash plumes reaching a height of 14,000 feet.

How long did the eruption last?

Bezymianny released four ash plumes in total on Friday. According to the weather service, the volcano's lava dome continued to grow and shine with an incandescent glow, accompanied by explosions and hot avalanches that developed as the glowing lava blocks rolled down the slopes. Local emergency services issued a warning for locals and visitors not to go to the Bezymianny and nearby Shiveluch volcanoes and maintain a distance of at least 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) due to the possibility of continuing ash eruptions.

Aerial view of the Bezymianny volcano erupting.
Photo: Ivan Koulakov via imaggeo

By 21:06 on Friday, the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team confirmed that the strong explosive eruption had concluded. Still, it warned that ash explosions up to 23,000 feet high could occur at any time, affecting international and low-flying aircraft. The event culminated with the ash spreading into an umbrella cloud, reaching the same density as its surroundings and achieving a level of neutral buoyancy. Just before midnight on Friday, the agency confirmed the volcanic ash was no longer visible in satellite imagery, ending the ongoing advisory.

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​​​​​​A highly volcanic peninsula

The Kamchatka Peninsula, which extends into the Pacific Ocean about 6,600 kilometers (4,000 miles) east of Moscow, is home to 29 active volcanoes. The area is one of the world's most concentrated areas of geothermal activity and sits in the part of the globe nicknamed the "Ring of Fire" due to its propensity to eruptions and frequent earthquakes.

The remote peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction. The region is also home to Klyuchevskaya Sopka, which at 4,754 meters (almost 16,000 feet), is Eurasia's tallest active volcano. The local area consists of sparsely populated forests and tundra, and eruptions rarely result in significant destruction and pose little risk to the locals. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the peninsula's only major city, is several hundred miles away.

Bezymianny volcano is one of the most famous in the region. The Stratovolcano was considered extinct and had not seen any activity for over a thousand years. Then in 1955, a dramatic eruption resulted in a large open crater formed by the collapse of the summit and an associated outward blast.

Source: Firstpost, Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team