Volcanic NewsRussia
March 29, 2007
Two volcanoes are emitting lava and gas in Russia's Far East. Mount Klyuchevskaya, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, has started emitting lava and Shiveluch spewed out gas and ash. Scientists said that the lava flow will grow more powerful. Streams of lava with a temperature of about 1,100 C (2,012 F) are encountering ice caps, producing powerful explosions of vapor. Experts are warning of devastating mudflows that can reach 500 meters (1,640 feet) in width and can descend the volcano's eastern slopes. Local officials said "the population and companies working in the area that could be affected by mudflows" had been told to take precautions. It was the LARGEST GAS AND ASH EMISSION IN FIVE YEARS from Mount Shiveluch, Kamchatka's northernmost volcano. Clouds of volcanic ash are spreading to the northeast of the mountain, posing a threat to people's health and air flights. Volcanic tremors are being registered in the nearby area. There are more than 150 volcanoes on Kamchatka, 29 of them active. Experts say volcano activity has recently increased on the Peninsula.
Volcanoes
ITALY - Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, spouted a "fountain of lava" early Thursday before slipping back into its fitful slumber. The eruption, a fountain of lava, lasted about an hour and happened in an uninhabited area. "We also saw two (lava) flows, one of which was very weak." They were proceeding down the mountain at a rate of about 10 metres (35 feet) per hour. A small cloud of ash produced by the eruption is floating towards the Italian mainland. Mount Etna was last active in December, spewing clouds of ash and causing the closure of Catania airport for about two weeks.
