Russian Volcano Erupts for the First Time in 600 Years
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Russia's remote Krasheninnikov volcano, dormant for roughly 600 years, erupted overnight in Kamchatka peninsula in the country's far east, just days after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region.
The eruption generated an ash plume rising approximately 6,000 meters (nearly 20,000 feet) into the sky, the Kamchatka branch of Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said, as per Reuters. The volcano itself stands at 1,856 meters.
Newsweek contacted several volcanologists for comment on Sunday via email.
Why It Matters
This eruption marks the first documented activity at Krasheninnikov since around 1463, according to experts, making it a geologically significant event. The timing, coming shortly after one of the strongest earthquakes in recent years, suggests a potential link between tectonic stress and volcanic activation.
The same earthquake is believed to have triggered the eruption of Klyuchevskoy, Kamchatka's most active volcano, which began on Wednesday.
Russian officials issued and then lifted a tsunami warning for the Kamchatka peninsula on Sunday after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Newsweek reported.
Tsunami waves were possible in three parts of Russia's far eastern Kamchatka region, the country's Ministry for Emergency Services had said Sunday, following the earthquake near the Kuril Islands, per Reuters.
A picture taken on March 16, 2021, shows people watching Klyuchevskoy volcano eruption on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka peninsula.
A picture taken on March 16, 2021, shows people watching Klyuchevskoy volcano eruption on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka peninsula.
MAXIM FESYUNOV/AFP viaWhat To Know
Kamchatka, known as the "land of fire and ice," is among the most volcanically and seismically active areas on the planet. The region is home to roughly 300 volcanoes, including 29 that are currently active, according to NASA's Earth Observatory.
The region is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, named for frequent volcanic and seismic activity in the area, which stretches over parts of more than 20 countries that lie along the edges of the Pacific Ocean, including Indonesia, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea, the Philippines, Japan, the United States, Chile, Canada, Guatemala, Russia and Peru.
Krasheninnikov volcano's eruption coincided with the eruption of Klyuchevskoy volcano earlier this week. As reported by Newsweek, the latter eruption occurred just hours after a huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake early Wednesday off Russia's far eastern coast, triggering a tsunami that sent waves across the Pacific, prompting evacuations and emergency declarations from Russia to Hawaii and alerts as far south as New Zealand.
The quake is tied for the sixth strongest ever recorded and was upgraded from an initial 8.0 reading. Aftershocks were reported to be ongoing, raising the risk of further seismic or volcanic activity.
Experts suggest the earthquake may have triggered a volcano-tectonic event, a known precursor when seismic stress agitates dormant magma chambers. Such interactions are rare but well-documented in historical cases globally.
Clive Oppenheimer, a professor of volcanology at the University of Cambridge and a featured expert in Werner Herzog's 2016 documentary Into the Inferno, told Newsweek on Sunday: "The connection is plausible. There is statistical evidence that very large earthquakes might trigger some eruptions of volcanoes within some hundreds of kilometers of the epicenter. But the mechanisms are not well understood.
"This reported activity of Krasheninnikov volcano is certainly intriguing in this respect. One idea is that in regions like South America or Indonesia or Kamchatka…several might be more or less primed to erupt in coming decades or centuries and that the seismic disturbance experienced by the subterranean magma or the crust holding it in brings the eruption date forwards for some."
The latest incident has heightened concerns around seismic engineering, aviation safety, and disaster preparedness in a notoriously volatile region
Russian emergency authorities assigned an orange aviation warning code, signaling potential disruption to flights, per Reuters.
What People Are Saying
Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, cited by RIA, per Reuters: "This is the first historically confirmed eruption of Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years."
The Kamchatka branch of Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram, per Reuters: "The ash cloud has drifted eastward, toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path."
What Happens Next
Regional scientists are closely monitoring seismic patterns and lava movement. Government officials emphasize that no ashfall has impacted inhabited areas, and evacuation protocols remain in effect for low-lying coastal locations affected by tsunami alerts
Authorities continue tracking aftershocks and potential volcanic hazards as the Pacific region remains on heightened alert. Air travel over Kamchatka may be disrupted while aviation zones remain under the orange warning.
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