Hours after a powerful earthquake hit Russia’s far east, the Klyuchevskoy volcano started erupting, reported AFP.
Early on Wednesday, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Kamchatka region in Russia’s far east, sparking tsunami waves and evacuation orders across parts of the Pacific coast.
Later, Russian scientists reported that the 4,700-meter Klyuchevskoy volcano – the highest active in Europe and Asia – erupted. “The Klyuchevskoy is erupting right now,” the Russian Geophysical Survey posted on Telegram.
“Red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions,” it added, sharing photos of an orange blaze on top of the volcano.
According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, the Klyuchevskoy volcano’s eruptions are common, having occurred at least 18 times since 2000.
The massive earthquake that shook Russia on Wednesday morning generated a tsunami of up to 4 meters on the country’s east coast, causing damage to buildings and several injuries, with no fatalities reported.
The quake triggered tsunami warnings and evacuation alerts across the region. Japan, Philippines, Russia, Canada, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as locations across Micronesia, Australia and New Zealand have all lifted tsunami warnings and advisories, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, tsunami advisories are still in effect for Pacific coast regions in Japan, and parts of California, Hawaii, Alaska and Oregon in the US.
Tsunami warnings remain in effect for Chile, Easter Island, Colombia, and Peru, while tsunami alerts are still in effect for French Polynesia, Galápagos Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
