The Sivelich volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East entered a phase of explosive activity today, spewing a plume of volcanic ash that reached an altitude of 10 kilometers, posing a danger to aircraft operating in the area, the eruption management team warned.

The group issued an emergency warning bulletin for civil aviation, stressing that volcanic ash can be thrown up to a height of 15 kilometers at any time. “Continued (volcanic) activity may affect international flights and low-flying aircraft,” it warned.

The ash plume released when the volcano erupted is being blown by winds to the west and south and is estimated to have spread into the airspace, covering 400 by 270 kilometers, according to the Kamchatka branch of the Institute of Geophysical Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which expressed through the Telegram platform.

Russian media reports that the cloud of volcanic ash continues to spread.

Local authorities closed schools and ordered residents of villages around the cone of the Sivelich volcano to stay indoors, Alek Badarenko, head of the local government in Ust-Kamchatsky region, also said via Telegram.

The volcano, one of the largest and most active in Kamchatka, has entered into dangerous explosive activity about 60 times in the past 10,000 years, most recently in 2007.

It has two segments, the smaller of which, “Neo Sivelich”, has been extremely active in recent months, according to scientists.

According to Mr. Badarenko, the volcano erupted at 06:31 (local time) and volcanic ash is falling on villages in the area, such as Klutsi. According to the Russian state news agency TASS, the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the amount of ash falling on the ground was measured to have reached 8.5 centimeters.

This is the highest level in the last 60 years.

“Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary,” according to Mr. Badarenko.