Following an earthquake, Klyuchevskoy Volcano, located on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, has begun to erupt. Scientists report that glowing lava is flowing down the slopes of this, one of the world's most active and tallest volcanoes.
The eruption began on Wednesday, July 30, immediately after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, as reported by The Independent.
The United Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences stated on Telegram that lava is flowing down the volcano's western slope. Intense flashes of light and explosions were observed at the volcano's summit.
The Independent reported that the volcano is situated approximately 450 kilometers north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city. It is named Klyuchevskoy due to its proximity to the small town of Klyuchi.
This is Eurasia's highest active volcano, with an elevation of approximately 4,835 meters (15,833 feet). The volcano formed about seven thousand years ago and continues to erupt regularly. It is part of the seismically active region known as the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Ocean.
Port and Ships Damaged by Tsunami
Historically, two eruptions of Klyuchevskoy in 2013 and 2020 garnered significant attention in global media. At that time, the volcano ejected ash plumes several kilometers high, disrupting air travel.
It is formed by accumulated lava, ash, and other volcanic materials over many years. The volcano has long been a subject of research for Russian geologists and explorers. However, due to its extreme danger, settlements around it are very limited. Russian scientists continuously monitor the volcano's activity to provide early warnings.
Today's earthquake damaged several buildings in the Kamchatka region, and some people were injured, though no fatalities have been reported. Following the earthquake, tsunami waves of 3 to 4 meters in height were recorded off the Kamchatka coast. However, local residents were able to evacuate to safe areas from the coastal region before the tsunami hit.
