Krasheninnikov Volcano in Russia Erupts After Centuries, Following Massive 8.8 Earthquake

A volcano on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia erupted late Saturday night into Sunday morning, marking the first such event in centuries, according to scientists. This eruption follows a recent massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake in the region.

The Krasheninnikov volcano erupted, projecting ash about 3.7 miles into the air, stated employees from the Kronotsky Reserve, which houses the volcano. State media released images depicting thick ash clouds billowing above the volcano.

“The ash plume is moving eastward from the volcano, heading over the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas in the path, and no ashfall has been noted in residential zones,” posted Kamchatka’s emergency ministry on Telegram during the eruption.

This volcanic activity was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and led to a tsunami warning for three regions in Kamchatka. However, Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Services later canceled the tsunami warning.

“This marks the first documented eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years,” stated Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Nevertheless, the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution, based in the U.S., records Krasheninnikov’s most recent eruption as having occurred 475 years ago in 1550.

The reason for the discrepancy was not clear.

The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said late Sunday that the volcano’s activity was decreasing but that “moderate explosive activity” could continue.

The eruption occurred after a huge earthquake struck Russia’s Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused small tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand.