Shiveluch erupts and a huge pyroclastic flow roars down the slopes. Pyroclastic flows consist of super heated gas and rocks at around 1,000 °C (1,830 °F) that travel at speeds of up to 700 km/h (450 mph)

Shiveluch or Шивелуч (3283 m) is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Kamchatka. We travelled up from the depressing town of Klyuchi and camped a few kilometres away. The volcano was very active and every few hours massive pyroclastic flows erupted from the volcano and roared down the sides. We felt safe as the flows were in the other direction from our campsite. We spent one day trekking quite close to the volcano, observing the eruptions and taking photographs.

The next day there was another major eruption, but this time the pyroclastic flow came down a different side of the volcano – our side and it missed our camp by a few kilometres. I watched in horror as the avalanche of debris flowed right over the spot we were observing the volcano from the previous evening.

This time the pyroclastic flow came down a different side of the volcano – our side

I watched in horror as the avalanche of debris flowed right over the spot we were observing the volcano from the previous evening.

We immediately packed up our camp and got the hell out of there