In a rare geological event, Russia’s Krasheninnikov Volcano erupted overnight for the first time in approximately 600 years, possibly linked to the powerful earthquake that struck the Far East region last week. The eruption was confirmed by scientists and reported by Russia’s state news agency RIA on Sunday.
“This is the first historically confirmed eruption of Krasheninnikov Volcano in 600 years,” said Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team. The volcano, located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, last showed signs of activity around the year 1463, with a margin of error of plus or minus 40 years.
Girina noted that the eruption may have been triggered by Wednesday’s massive earthquake, which was powerful enough to prompt tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile. The quake was also followed by an eruption of Klyuchevskoy, the peninsula’s most active volcano.
Following the eruption, Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Services reported that an ash plume had risen to an altitude of 6,000 meters (approximately 3.7 miles). The Krasheninnikov Volcano itself stands at 1,856 meters in height.
Scientists are closely monitoring the situation, as the eruption marks a significant event in the seismic and volcanic history of the region. The Kamchatka Peninsula, part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is home to numerous active volcanoes and frequent seismic activity.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)