The Round Tolbachik route inside Kamchatka’s Klyuchevsky Nature Park has been closed because Bezymyanny volcano has shown heightened activity. This update comes from the Kamchatka Volcanoes Telegram channel and is being treated as a precaution for visitors and residents alike.
Sensors and experts are predicting a strong eruption in the near term, potentially within the next month. If it occurs, volcanic ash could reach atmospheric heights between roughly 6 and 15 kilometers, creating hazardous conditions for air travel and local communities.
There is also a risk of mudflows traveling up to 10 kilometers toward the southeast. Such flows could threaten nearby towns, including Klyuchi, Kozyrevsk, and Ust-Kamchatsk, where ash fallout might affect daily life, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Against this backdrop, park officials urge visitors to avoid venturing into or through a 25-kilometer zone around Bezymianny. The aim is to minimize exposure to volcanic gases, ash, and sudden changes in terrain that can accompany volcanic activity.
The decision to close the route followed an extraordinary meeting of the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Expert Council on volcanic forecasting. Officials emphasized caution and the primacy of public safety in the face of evolving volcanic dynamics.
Satellite observations show a notable expansion in both the size and the thermal intensity of Bezymyanny’s thermal anomaly. This pattern signals a higher level of activity and a need for continued close monitoring as the situation evolves toward potential escalation.
The Kamchatka Volcanoes network of nature parks, together with local authorities, continues to urge residents and visitors to stay away from dangerous zones until conditions stabilize. Staff and researchers remain on alert, ready to update the public with new information as it becomes available.
Monitoring of volcanic behavior is ongoing, employing satellite data, ground-based sensors, and field observations to detect changes that could signal shifts in threat levels. Updates are expected to be issued promptly to help people decide when it is safe to travel again and which routes remain affected by the activity.
In related scientific context, researchers note why ancient Pompeii suffered such devastating loss during Vesuvius’s historic eruption, underscoring the importance of heeding warnings and understanding how volcanic events can abruptly alter landscapes and communities. This reminder reinforces the practical value of vigilance in volcanic regions and the priority placed on public safety for current generations living near active systems.