Shiveluch Volcano Erupts, Prompting Aviation Alert Over Kamchatka Peninsula

The Shiveluch volcano, a highly active stratovolcano on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, registered a significant explosive event on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The eruption propelled an ash column to an estimated altitude of 9,000 meters, or approximately 29,500 feet, above sea level, according to geophysical monitoring services.

The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) confirmed that the resulting ash cloud extended over 110 kilometers in a westward direction from the active cone. In response to the substantial emission, KVERT immediately issued an orange aviation alert for the surrounding airspace, signifying the second-highest alert level. This level indicates an eruption is underway with minor ash emission, though bursts up to 12 kilometers remain possible during the current phase. This activity follows a period of elevated unrest around January 23, 2026, when plumes reached up to 10 kilometers, which had previously necessitated a temporary escalation to a red alert level.

The Aviation Colour Code system, defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is utilized by the civil aviation community to manage flight safety based on volcanic ash presence. Volcanic ash emissions from Shiveluch are historically known to disrupt air traffic connecting the Asian and North American continents due to the potential for engine damage. The ash plume from the January 28 event was observed drifting west at approximately 65 kilometers per hour shortly after the 04:50 UTC eruption time, as reported by the Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC).

Shiveluch is a complex geological feature, recognized as part of the Kamchatka Peninsula's UNESCO World Heritage Site for its dynamic landscape. The structure comprises the remains of 'Old Shiveluch' and the newer 'Young Shiveluch' lava dome complex, which formed within a collapse scar from a catastrophic event at least 10,000 years ago. The volcano is known for frequent edifice failures, with the most recent major collapse occurring in 1964. Despite the scale of the event, the Director of the Geophysical Service of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences indicated that this specific eruption does not pose significant hazards at this stage, though moderate ashfall remains a possibility across the region.