Scientists have raised aviation danger level the from orange to red because of Bezymianny volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, which began erupting on Thursday after a four-year hiatus. That means that the volcano’s activity is dangerous for aircraft, the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) reported.

"According to KVERT video data, the volcano’s activity is gradually increasing. Powerful ash explosions can occur in the near future. Its current activity could affect international and low flying aircraft," the statement said.

According to KVERT, the ash plume is rising as high as 8 kilometers (earlier reports said 7 kilometers - TASS) and is drifting about 60 kilometers northwest of the volcano.