A volcano in Russia’s far east has erupted for the first time in over 500 years, an event experts suggest could be connected to a recent major earthquake.
The Krasheninnikov Volcano, located in Kamchatka, emitted an ash plume reaching up to six kilometers (3.7 miles) overnight. According to Russia’s emergency ministry, populated areas are not currently threatened.
The eruption was followed hours later by another significant earthquake in Russia, prompting tsunami warnings for three regions of the peninsula.
Both events are potentially linked to a substantial 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck a similar area last week, triggering tsunami alerts as far away as French Polynesia and Chile.
Russian authorities had cautioned that strong aftershocks were possible for several weeks following Wednesday’s earthquake, which ranked among the most powerful ever recorded and led to the evacuation of millions.
On Sunday, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, potentially generating waves up to 18cm (7in), as reported by Russia’s emergency ministry.
Despite the relatively low wave heights, authorities stated that residents in three areas of Kamchatka “must still move away from the shore.”
The last documented eruption of Krasheninnikov occurred in the 15th century, according to the head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team.
Olga Girina also suggested a possible connection to the earlier 8.8 magnitude earthquake, as reported by Russian state news agency RIA.
The Kamchatka Peninsula, while remote, is situated within the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a region known for its high frequency of earthquakes and volcanic activity.
These developments come as a deadline set by the U.S. for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, or face sanctions, approaches.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has reported Russian air strikes targeting the southern cities of Kherson and Mykolaiv.
Ukraine stated that the strikes were among several it conducted against Russian military infrastructure.
Following a recent social media exchange with Russia’s former president, the U.S. president has reportedly ordered two nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia.
As technology reshapes the conflict in Ukraine, soldiers are reportedly experiencing a new form of trauma known as “Droneophobia.”