Russian earthquake triggered by a volcano that erupted after 600 years
Overnight, the Krasheninnikov Volcano in Kamchatka erupted for the first time in 600 years, Russia's RIA state news agency and scientists reported on Sunday.This earthquake is part of the intense seismic activity along the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate dives beneath the Okhotsk microplate (part of the North American plate complex) at roughly 77-86 mm per year.This zone is one of the world's most seismically active subduction trenches, lying within the Pacific "Ring of Fire." The 6.8 event is part of a series of earthquakes following a major magnitude 8.8 megathrust earthquake on July 29, 2025, which ruptured a large section of the fault roughly 390 km long and 140 km wide. That quake was centered offshore near the Kamchatka Peninsula and triggered widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific.The 6.8-magnitude quake near Severo-Kuril'sk is considered an aftershock or related event in the ongoing seismic sequence. The area frequently experiences shallow reverse faulting, where one tectonic block thrusts over another along the subduction interface, causing significant seafloor displacement that can generate tsunamis.
The 6.8 event is part of a series of earthquakes following a major magnitude 8.8 megathrust earthquake. (Photo: AFP)
Severo-Kuril'sk, near the quake's epicentre, has witnessed tsunamis and earthquake damage historically, with this region having had major quakes such as the 1952 M9.0 event. Due to the shallow depth (around 19-21 km) and fault slip, seismic shaking can be severe, though the region is sparsely populated.This latest 6.8 event reaffirms the high seismic risk in the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring, tsunami preparedness, and understanding the tectonic forces driving earthquakes in this volatile part of the Pacific Rim.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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