MOSCOW, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A volcano in the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia's Far East region erupted late on Tuesday, the geophysical service of the Russian Academy of Sciences announced.

    The eruption of the volcano Bezymyanny, located in the central area of the Kamchatka Peninsula, began at around 21:21 local time (0821 GMT), the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

    Bezymyanny, which is 2,900 meters tall, was belching out ash to the altitude of 13 km to 15 km above sea level and the trail of smoke and ash was spreading northwards and northeastward.

    The eruption was the most powerful over the past 21 years, as the previous surge of Bezymmyanny's activity was registered in 1985, sources at the Kamchatka Institute of Volcano Studies said.

    Bezymyanny is part of a group of volcanoes related to the Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the largest active volcano in Eurasia.

    Researchers, closely watching the natural phenomenon, said it did not pose any threat to residential areas.

    Kamchatka's regional department for emergency situations issued warnings to tourist groups and hunters to stay at a minimum distance of 20 km away from the volcano.

    The Kamchatka Peninsula is often referred to as the Russian volcano land, with 29 active volcanoes. Enditem