Krasheninnikov Volcano eruption in Kamchatka after 500 years stuns experts, linked to 8.8 quake. Officials warn of tsunami risks after fresh 7.0 tremor
Krasheninnikov Volcano eruption in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has stunned scientists and residents alike, marking its first activity in over 500 years.
The volcano erupted overnight, launching a dramatic ash plume up to 6 kilometers into the sky. Experts say the timing suggests it may have been triggered by last week’s powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake—one of the strongest ever recorded in the region.
“This part of Russia sits on the Ring of Fire, and what we’re seeing is the kind of chain reaction experts have long feared,” said Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team.
Just hours after the eruption, a second earthquake—a magnitude 7.0—struck near the Kuril Islands, prompting tsunami warnings for three Kamchatka coastal zones.
Although wave heights are expected to remain around 18 cm, residents have been urged to stay away from shorelines.
Authorities assure there is no immediate threat to lives, but with the ground still shaking, more seismic activity could follow.
