Russian volcano erupts after 7.0-Magnitude quake hits country's east coast

A volcano erupted following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s eastern coast, sending a massive ash plume miles into the sky, according to state media.

The Shiveluch volcano, located about 280 miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with roughly 180,000 residents in Russia’s Kamchatka region, was reported to have spewed ash as high as 8 kilometers (5 miles) above sea level, according to TASS on Sunday morning. The eruption also unleashed a flow of lava.

TASS stated that there have been no reports of injuries so far.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) noted that the earthquake's epicenter was approximately 55 miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of about 30 miles.

Despite the tremor, TASS reported no “major damage,” though inspections of buildings, particularly social facilities, are underway to assess any potential harm.

Although the Russian Emergencies Ministry did not issue a tsunami warning, the US Tsunami Warning System cautioned that “hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300 kilometers (approximately 186 miles) of the epicenter along the coasts of Russia.”

#NDTVWorld | Shiveluch Volcano Erupts In Russia After 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake https://t.co/TZ1xtA8R35 pic.twitter.com/D0bhlAH5uY

— NDTV (@ndtv) August 18, 2024