Russia’s Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula erupted violently on the morning of July 19, sending an ash plume up to 12 kilometres into the atmosphere.

The Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Geophysical Service said satellite data showed the ash cloud rising to approximately 12,000 metres above sea level between 07:17 a.m. and 07:32 a.m. local time, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

Shiveluch is one of the most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The volcanic complex consists of the ancient Old Shiveluch volcano, an old caldera and the active Young Shiveluch volcano, and is estimated to be between 60,000 and 70,000 years old.

The volcano is located about 50 kilometres from the village of Klyuchi in the Ust-Kamchatsky District and around 450 kilometres from the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.