Another earthquake in Russia; Krasheninnikov volcano erupts for first time in 600 years

MOSCOW: Russia's Ministry of Emergency Services has lifted the tsunami warning issued for the Kamchatka Peninsula following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. However, people have been advised to stay away from coastal areas. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre also confirmed that there is no tsunami threat.

Meanwhile, Russian news agencies and scientists reported that the Krasheninnikov volcano in Kamchatka erupted overnight — the first confirmed eruption of the volcano in 600 years.

Last week, after an undersea earthquake struck near Russia’s Far East Kamchatka Peninsula, tsunami waves were observed along the coasts of Russia, Japan, and the United States. The earthquake, which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale, occurred on July 30 at 4:54 a.m. IST. Subsequently, tsunami warnings were issued across Pacific coastal regions, including Russia. Russian scientists on Wednesday cautioned that powerful aftershocks could occur in the area over the coming weeks.

According to Olga Girina, head of Kamchatka’s Volcanic Eruption Response Team, this marks the first historically confirmed eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in six centuries. The Kamchatka branch of Russia’s Emergency Services Ministry reported that volcanic ash rose as high as 6,000 meters (3.7 miles) following the eruption. The volcano stands 1,856 meters tall.