Strong explosive eruption at Bezymianny volcano sends ash plume 11 km (36 000 feet) in the sky, Russia
A strong explosive eruption took place at the Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, on April 23, 2025, sending an ash plume 11 km (36 000 feet) above sea level. As a result, the Aviation Color Code was raised to Red.
Lava flows at Bezymianny volcano on April 14, 2025. Credit: Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS, KVERT
An explosive eruption at Bezymianny volcano began at 01:45 UTC on April 23, producing an ash cloud 9 km (29 500 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.). An ash cloud 10×10 km (6.2×6.2 miles) in size was noted 45 km (28 miles) to the NNW of the volcano. As a result, the Kamchatka Volcano Eruption Response Team (KVERT) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red.
Effusive eruption continued throughout the day, accompanied by powerful gas-steam emissions and pyroclastic flows.
Another strong explosive eruption began at 23:10 UTC on April 23, sending ash up to 11 km (36 000 feet) a.s.l.
The ash cloud moved about 390 km (242 miles) SW of the volcano, causing ash fall in the villages of Atlasovo, Lazo, Milkovo. A 100×120 km (62×74 miles) ash cloud was seen moving southwest of the volcano.
The Aviation Color Code was lowered to Orange (the second-highest level on a four-color scale) at 06:00 UTC on April 24, three hours after the explosive eruption ended.
Effusive eruptions accompanied by hot avalanches were observed at the volcano during the observation period between April 10 and 17. Satellite data by the KVERT showed a large thermal anomaly throughout the observation period.
According to the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (IVS) of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), incandescent debris avalanches descended mainly the E flank, and crater incandescence was often visible during dark hours.
Ash plumes generated from these avalanches on most days rose as high as 3.1 km (10 170 feet) above the summit and drifted NNW, NW, W, and E.
Bezymianny volcano formed approximately 4 700 years ago atop older volcanic structures dating back 11 000–7 000 years. Despite its smaller size compared to neighboring volcanoes Kamen and Kliuchevskoi, it has undergone three major periods of intensified activity in the past 3 000 years.
The most recent period began with a major eruption in 1955–56 following 1 000 years of inactivity. This eruption resulted in a summit collapse and lateral blast, forming a large, open crater. Since then, repeated lava-dome growth and intermittent explosive activity have partially refilled the crater.
References:
1 VONA/KVERT Information Release – KVERT – April 24, 2025
2 Global Volcanism Program, 2025. Report on Bezymianny (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 16 April-22 April 2025 – GVP – Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey
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