A volcano in Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula has erupted for the first time in nearly five centuries, just days after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the region.
The Krasheninnikov volcano, located in the Far East of Russia, erupted early this morning, sending a massive column of ash into the sky. According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, the volcano’s last recorded eruption was in 1550 — about 475 years ago. However, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported it had been 600 years since its last eruption, reflecting some discrepancy in historical records.
Dramatic images released by Russian media showed a towering plume of ash rising from the crater. The Kamchatka Emergency Situation Agency stated the ash cloud reached an altitude of approximately 6 kilometers (nearly 20,000 feet) and is drifting eastward over the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, no inhabited areas lie in its path, and no ash fallout has been reported in residential zones.
Aviation Alert Issued
In response to the eruption, authorities issued an “orange” aviation warning — the second-highest level — indicating that air travel in the region could be affected by the ash plume. Ash clouds can pose serious hazards to aircraft, including engine failure.
Second Volcanic Eruption Follows Major Quake
The eruption comes shortly after the region experienced an 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake on July 30 near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. That quake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, prompting mass evacuations in Japan, Hawaii, Ecuador, and other coastal regions. While no major tsunami occurred, the event rattled much of the Pacific Rim.
On the same day as the Krasheninnikov eruption, another powerful earthquake — a likely aftershock — was reported. The German Center for Seismological Research (GFZ) measured it at 6.7 magnitude, while the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning System assessed it as a magnitude 7.0. It struck at a depth of around 10 kilometers in the Kuril Islands, which lie between Russia and Japan. Fortunately, authorities confirmed there was no tsunami risk following this tremor.
Klyuchevskoy Volcano Also Erupts
Adding to the region’s geological unrest, the Klyuchevskoy volcano — one of the most active in Eurasia — also erupted on July 30. Unlike Krasheninnikov, Klyuchevskoy has erupted frequently, with at least 18 eruptions recorded since 2000.
A Region of Intense Geological Activity
The Kamchatka Peninsula, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is one of the most volcanically active areas in the world. The sudden activation of two volcanoes and a series of high-magnitude earthquakes has drawn international attention and raised concerns about further seismic or volcanic activity.
For now, officials are closely monitoring the situation, and residents in the wider region are advised to stay alert to further advisories. Despite the dramatic events, no injuries or damage have been reported from the volcanic eruptions.