Dormant Kamchatka Volcano Erupts After 600 Years, Possibly Triggered by Recent Earthquake

Russia’s Far East witnessed the rare eruption of the long-dormant Krasheninnikov Volcano in Kamchatka overnight—its first recorded activity in six centuries—which scientists suggest may be linked to the powerful earthquake that struck the region last week.

Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, confirmed to state news agency RIA that this marks the first historically documented eruption of the volcano in 600 years. She noted a possible connection to the magnitude 7.5 earthquake on Wednesday, which prompted tsunami alerts as far as French Polynesia and Chile. That seismic event was followed by an eruption of Klyuchevskoy, Kamchatka’s most active volcano.

In a statement on the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s Telegram channel, Girina explained that the last known lava flow from Krasheninnikov occurred around 1463 (±40 years), with no subsequent eruptions recorded until now.

According to Russia’s emergency services, the eruption sent an ash plume soaring up to 6,000 meters (3.7 miles) into the air—more than three times the volcano’s height of 1,856 meters. Officials confirmed the ash cloud is drifting eastward over the Pacific Ocean, posing no threat to nearby settlements.

The event has been assigned an “orange” aviation hazard code, warning of potential risks to aircraft in the region. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.