Russia's Highest Active Volcano Erupts After Massive 8.8 Earthquake

Last Updated:July 30, 2025, 21:38 IST

The Klyuchevskoy volcano, the highest active volcano in both Europe and Asia at around 4,700 metres, began erupting with visible lava flows and explosions

The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, erupts in Russia's northern Kamchatka Peninsula. (AP file photo)

A volcano in Russia’s far east erupted on Wednesday, just hours after a powerful earthquake struck the region and triggered tsunami warnings across parts of the Pacific.

The Klyuchevskoy volcano — the highest active volcano in both Europe and Asia at around 4,700 metres — began erupting with visible lava flows and explosions, Russian scientists confirmed.

“The Klyuchevskoy is erupting right now," Russia’s Geophysical Survey said in a statement on Telegram. “Red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions."

The agency also shared images showing a fiery orange glow above the summit, with thick smoke rising into the sky. Monitoring systems have been placed on alert, though no immediate danger to nearby communities has been reported.

Eruptions from Klyuchevskoy are relatively common. According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has erupted at least 18 times since 2000. Due to its remote location on the Kamchatka Peninsula, far from large population centres, these eruptions rarely cause major disruptions.

Earlier on Wednesday, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The 8.8-magnitude quake hit off the coast near Petropavlovsk and was the most powerful in the region since 1952.

The quake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, with waves reaching up to four metres (12 feet) high. Nearly two million people in Japan were advised to move to higher ground, and alerts were issued for Hawaii, the Philippines, and parts of the US west coast. Most warnings were later lifted or downgraded, but authorities warned of the risk of strong aftershocks.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake was one of the 10 most powerful ever recorded. At least six aftershocks followed, including one measuring 6.9 in magnitude.

Despite the strength of the quake, no major damage or casualties have been reported so far, as the region closest to the epicentre is sparsely populated.

(With inputs from AFP)

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