KAMCHATKA, RUSSIA. A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s east coast triggered an eruption of the Shiveluch volcano on Sunday, sending a massive ash column soaring 5 miles into the sky, according to state-run media reports.
The Shiveluch volcano, situated approximately 280 miles from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Kamchatka region, released an ash cloud that reached 8 kilometers (5 miles) above sea level. The eruption was accompanied by a significant outflow of lava, according to TASS, a state-run news agency.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located about 55 miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with a depth of approximately 30 miles, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Despite the quake’s strength, no major damage was reported in the area. TASS noted that buildings are currently being inspected for potential structural issues, with a focus on social facilities such as schools and hospitals.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry did not issue a tsunami warning following the tremor, although earlier, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System had cautioned that “hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300 km [approximately 186 miles] of the epicenter along the coasts of Russia.”
The Shiveluch volcano is one of Kamchatka’s most active and is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for its high seismic activity. The region is frequently monitored due to the potential risks posed by both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The situation remains under close observation as authorities continue to assess the impact of both the earthquake and the volcanic eruption on the local population and infrastructure.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
