Shiveluch volcano, the northernmost active volcano in Russia, has erupted shortly after a massive earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck in the Kamchatka Krai region.
The eruption has send an ash cloud 5 to 8 kilometers high, causing a “code red” alert for aircrafts. A 4.7-magnitude aftershock of was also registered.
Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that, “The earthquake’s intensity in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was 6.0, according to preliminary estimates.”
No tsunami alert was issued, the regional department of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said. Initially, the US National Tsunami warning centre issued a tsunami threat but later said that it has passed.
The department also said the earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks in the Pacific Ocean off Kamchatka, measuring between 3.9 and 5.0. Most of them were not felt on the land.
The official said the quake’s epicenter was located around 100 km from the region’s administrative center, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Buildings are now being examined for potential damage, with special attention paid to social facilities.
Similarly, the Ebeko volcano located on the Kuril Islands also spewed ash 2.5km (1.5 miles) high, the Geophysical Survey Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences said. It did not explicitly say whether the earthquake triggered the eruptions.
In April 2023, a strong eruption occurred in Shiveluch volcano as a result of the collapse of the lava dome in the volcano to the south, ejecting a cloud of volcanic gas and ash that reached a height of 20 km and spread over an area of 108,000 km2.
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