A volcano in Russia‘s Far East has erupted for the first time in over 500 years, sending ash plumes up to six kilometers high into the air. The Krasheninnikov Volcano in Kamchatka erupted overnight, prompting concerns about potential connections to a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the region last week. According to Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, the eruption may be linked to the earlier earthquake.
The eruption occurred at 2:50 AM local time, with ash clouds rising up to 4 km above sea level. Russia’s emergency ministry reported that the eruption posed no immediate threat to populated areas. However, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the Kuril Islands on Sunday led to tsunami warnings in three areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The emergency ministry warned people in these areas to move away from the shore, despite the predicted wave heights being relatively low, at up to 18cm.
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area known for its high frequency of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Experts had warned that strong aftershocks were possible for several weeks after the massive earthquake last week, which was one of the strongest ever recorded and prompted millions to evacuate. The recent eruption and earthquake may be connected to this larger seismic event.
Russia’s Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has been monitoring the situation closely. While there are no reports of major damage or casualties, the eruption and earthquake have raised concerns about the region’s volcanic and seismic activity. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange attacks, with Ukraine reporting Russian air strikes on the southern cities of Kherson and Mykolaiv, and Russia saying a Ukraine drone attack caused a fire at a Sochi oil depot. Ukraine has since claimed responsibility for the attack.