Long dormant Russian volcano erupts, spews ash 4 miles high
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- An eastern Russian volcano has erupted for the first time in more than 500 years, which may have been related to an 8.8 magnitude earthquake last week, experts said.
The Krasheninnikov Volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula emitted a plume of ash 3.7 miles into the sky overnight. The last recorded eruption of the volcano happened in the 15th century, the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said.
Officials urged residents of the area to move away from the area, and volcano monitoring staff have been removed, though there have been no imminent threats to populated areas. No deaths have been reported.
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire," known for the frequency volcanoes and earthquakes that occur there.
Last week's massive earthquake was the latest in a series of seismic events in the region, including another temblor that shook a region 11 times zones away from Moscow on the Pacific peninsula, Russian seismic officials reported. The statement said the eruption occurred far from areas that could directly affect people.
The volcano erupted at about 6 a.m. local time Sunday when staff observed gas and vapor spewing from Krasheninnikov's crater, officials said in a statement on social media.
Officials in the volcano reserve called the eruption an "exciting and fascinating" event. Krasheninnikov is one of 8 volcanoes nestled among the reserve near Kamchatka.
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UPI
8 hours ago
- UPI
French fries, but not mashed potatoes, linked to type 2 diabetes
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UPI
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Excessive screen time for children linked to later heart health risks
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Newsweek
15 hours ago
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Major Earthquake Shifts and Sinks Huge Russian Peninsula
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scientists in Russia have revealed the geological impact of an earthquake that struck Russia's far east and prompted tsunami warnings as far away as Hawaii. The Kamchatka Peninsula and surrounding Pacific Rim regions faced seismic instability after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Russian coast on July 30. The magnitude of the event was so great that the southern part of the peninsula sank by almost two meters (six feet) according to the Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). Newsweek has contacted the RAS for further comment. This illustrative image from March 16, 2021 shows the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupting on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. This illustrative image from March 16, 2021 shows the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupting on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka It Matters The epicenter of the initial earthquake was around 74 miles east-southeast of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and triggered a tsunami that sent waves across the Pacific, prompting evacuations and emergency declarations from Russia to Hawaii. Days later, the remote Krasheninnikov volcano, dormant for roughly 600 years, erupted in the same region. The aftershocks highlighted the vulnerability of global coastlines in the Pacific Ring of Fire which is marked by intense tectonic activity. What To Know The Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) said Tuesday it had conducted preliminary calculations of the earthquake which was among the 10 strongest in recorded history. Despite the earthquake's magnitude, no fatalities occurred and resulting tsunami damaged port facilities and a fish processing plant in Severo-Kurilsk. While the damage being less than feared, the geological impact was significant. The RAS said on Telegram two-meter displacements were observed after the earthquake in the southern part of the peninsula which were comparable to the horizontal displacements after the 2011 earthquake in Tohoku, Japan. That earthquake 14 years ago was the fourth highest ever recorded and triggered tsunami waves of up to 40.5 meters (133 ft) and preceded the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Following the July 30 quake, Russia's Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky area experienced more modest shifts of roughly 50 centimeters (about 20 inches), the scientists added. RAS director Danila Chebrov told Russian state media outlet Izvestia that Kamchatka not only shifted but also decreased slightly in height although there are no serious consequences expected. What People Are Saying Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) on Telegram: "The maximum seismic displacements after the July 30 earthquake were observed in the southern part of the peninsula and amounted to almost 2 meters, comparable to the horizontal displacements after the 2011 earthquake in Tohoku, Japan." What Happens Next On Monday, Russian scientists revealed the extent of the aftershocks, saying that on that day alone there were seven earthquakes in the Kamchatka region, suggesting that the seismic events there are not over.
