Tolbachik may become another Eyjafjallajökull

The eruption of the recently awakened volcano Plosky Tolbachik has been intensifying in Kamchatka, the Far East of Russia. This natural phenomenon can turn out to be as powerful as the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, expert of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Olga Girina believes.

Specialists have assigned the highest red color code to Tolbachik, warning of the danger to both local and international aviation. Volcanologists warn that the giant may start to erupt ash at the height of up to 10 kilometers at any time.

Meanwhile, experts managed to obtain first pictures of the erupting volcano. Two fissures with lava gushing out of them have been formed in the southern part of the volcano. The water on the surface of water bodies trembles in the vicinity of the volcano, indicating a high seismic activity, LentaChel reports.

Plosky Tolbachik woke up after 36 years of sleep on November 27. Experts continue to watch the volcano.

Many European airports were closed in 2010 due to the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull. A huge cloud of volcanic ash covered the north, west and partly the east of Europe. The disaster affected 29 percent of global aviation, causing damage to 1.2 million passengers every day. The losses of airlines totaled $1.5-2 billion.