Earthquake in Kamchatka may have caused volcanic eruption after 600 years, says Russia

The quake was followed by the volcanic eruption of Klyuchevskoy, which is considered as the most active volcano in the Kamchatka region.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: August 3, 2025 10:35 AM IST

2 min read

The Klyuchevskoy volcano, kamchatka, volcano

The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka peninsula, Russian Far East. (Photo: AP/ File)

The eruption of the Krasheninnikov Volcano in Kamchatka overnight, first time in about 600 years, is apparently linked to the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia’s Far East last week, scientists have said, Russia’s RIA state news agency.

The RIA, quoting Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said “This is the first historically confirmed eruption of Krasheninnikov Volcano in 600 years,” Reuters reported.

Girina added that the volcanic eruption might be connected to the earthquake near Kamchatka on Wednesday that triggered tsunami warnings to regions as far as French Polynesia and Chile, while the tsunami waves struck parts of Japan, Russia and America.

This combination of images taken from a fixed position video shows a beach immidiately after a strong earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, above, and after people evacuated following a tsunami warning, in Shirahama, Wakayama prefecture, western Japan. (AP)

The quake was followed by the volcanic eruption of Klyuchevskoy, which is considered as the most active volcano in the Kamchatka region.

Girina said that the last known volcanic eruption in Krasheninnikov was recorded in 1463, and since then no lava effusion has taken place. According to Russia’s ministry for emergency services’ Kamchatka branch, ash plumes rising up to 3,000 meters were recorded following the volcanic eruption. The volcano stands at 1,856 meters.

“The ash cloud has drifted eastward, toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path,” Russia’s ministry said on Telegram as reported by Reuters.

The eruption in the Kaachatka Peninsula has been assigned with an orange aviation code, which indicates a heightened risk to aircrafts, Russia’s ministry for emergency services said.

(with inputs from Reuters)

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