A volcano erupted on one of Russia's far eastern Kuril Islands, releasing a cloud of noxious fumes and raising temperatures in the surrounding area.

Emergency officials said in a statement on their website that the volcano, called Ivan the Terrible and located on the sparsely populated island of Iturup to the south of the Kuril archipelago, erupted Wednesday due to increased water flows rushing into the volcano after heavy downpours.

Officials stressed that the volcano had released no lava and that it erupts regularly, adding that the last major eruption was in 1989.

According to the statement, Iturup residents were exposed to a slight smell of hydrogen peroxide and noticed ash falling as a result of the eruption. By Thursday, the hydrogen peroxide fumes and ash were no longer noticeable.

Emergency officials advised citizens to steer clear of Ivan the Terrible and said they were monitoring the volcano's activity.

Earth Changes Media


Mitch Battros | 



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