After lava flows from the Plosky Tolbachik volcano blocked a rural road used by tourists visiting Kamchatka, emergency workers have organized patrols to prevent human casualties.
According to Itar-Tass, the local branch of the Emergency Situations Ministry organized the patrols due to an influx of tourists and adventurers attracted by the volcanic eruption, which started Nov. 27 and has been ongoing ever since.
No casualties have been reported so far, the report said, although lava flows have destroyed a tourist camp, a scientific outpost and a nearby wood.
Emergency workers have said that they will continue the patrols "until the eruption stops," which could take at least a month, Interfax reported.
On Monday, volcanologists told Itar-Tass that lava flows from Plosky Tolbachik had stopped advancing and that local towns and villages weren't under threat.
The lava fields surrounding the volcano currently stretch over 13 square kilometers and are up to 20 meters deep, the specialists said.
Plosky Tolbachik, which last erupted in 1976, is 3,085 meters high and located 343 kilometers north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.