VLADIVOSTOK - The Klyuchevskoy Volcano in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula ejected an ash column soaring 12 kilometers into the atmosphere on Wednesday, local authorities said.

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The ash plume is drifting southward, with settlements in the Ust-Kamchatsky, Milkovsky and Yelizovsky districts, as well as the Vilyuchinsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky urban districts, lying in its projected path, said the regional branch of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Minor ashfall in these areas is possible, though no ash deposits have been reported so far in populated areas.

Officials urged residents to stay safe in the event of ashfall by keeping doors and windows shut, minimizing outdoor exposure and wearing masks outside.

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Following the eruption, the volcano-related aviation alert was raised to red, the highest level.

Standing at 4,754 meters above sea level and located in the Ust-Kamchatsky District, Klyuchevskoy is the tallest active volcano in Eurasia. Its current eruptive phase began in April.