One of Russia's most active volcanoes has erupted, resulting in a vast cloud of ash rising into the sky and smothering villages. The eruption triggered an aviation warning around the county's far-eastern Kamchatka peninsula. The Shiveluch volcano erupted just after midnight, reaching a crescendo approximately six hours later. Villages have been carpeted in grey ash as deep as 8.5cm following warnings of mud slides.

Russia volcano eruption smothers villages and triggers aviation alert