First eruption in centuries reported in remote Russian region
The Krasheninnikov Volcano, located on Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, erupted early Sunday morning local time, marking its first known eruption in at least 400 years, according to the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. The eruption follows a magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the area just days prior.
An ash and gas cloud from the eruption reached an altitude of approximately 27,000 feet, prompting a red aviation alert for aircraft in the vicinity. The alert was later downgraded to orange, advising planes to proceed with caution as further ash explosions could still occur.
Area evacuated, no immediate danger reported
As a precaution, the area surrounding the volcano was evacuated by reserve personnel. Authorities stated that the region is sparsely populated and there is no current threat to local residents.
Vsevolod Yakovlev, acting director of the nature reserve, noted that although the eruption is unusual, it is not entirely unexpected in a region known for frequent volcanic activity.
Potential link to recent seismic event
The Krasheninnikov Volcano lies about 143 miles (230 km) north of the epicenter of a massive earthquake that occurred off Kamchatka’s coast on July 30. The quake, one of the ten most powerful ever recorded, triggered tsunami warnings across parts of the Pacific, including Japan, Hawaii, and California, but caused limited damage.
Seismologists suggest a possible connection between the quake and the eruption. While the earthquake alone may not have directly caused the volcanic activity, it could have accelerated the eruption process if the volcano was already under significant internal pressure.
