Klyuchevskoy volcano erupts hours after 8.8 quake in Kamchatka
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No major damage or casualties were reported following the eruption.
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Klyuchevskoy volcano erupts (Sputnik)
Klyuchevskoy, the highest active volcano in Europe and Asia, erupted on Wednesday, just hours after a powerful earthquake rattled Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The eruption, while dramatic, is part of the volcano's frequent activity cycle.
The Russian Geophysical Survey confirmed the eruption, sharing images of the summit aglow with lava. “The Klyuchevskoy is erupting right now,” the agency reported on Telegram, adding that "red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions."
🚨🇷🇺 🌋 VOLCANO ERUPTS IN RUSSIA'S KAMCHATKA AFTER STRONGEST EARTHQUAKE
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) July 30, 2025
The eruption of Klyuchevskaya Sopka began shortly after a powerful earthquake hit Kamchatka, with aftershocks still shaking the region. pic.twitter.com/JsSmE4Sa0B
Standing at 4,700 meters, Klyuchevskoy, also known as Klyuchevskaya Sopka, has seen at least 18 eruptions since 2000, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program.
Despite the eruption's intensity, there have been no reported injuries or major damage. The area surrounding the volcano is sparsely inhabited, with the nearest large city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk, situated hundreds of kilometers away.
🚨🇷🇺 KAMCHATKA EARTHQUAKE: WHY MINIMAL DAMAGE?
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) July 30, 2025
The strongest quake since 1952 (magnitude 8.8) left NO casualties, no significant damage in Russia's Kamchatka, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
It’s not luck—it’s the result of hard work.
Here's why🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/ewQop0YVkp
Historic earthquake strikes Kamchatka region
Earlier the same day, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck 119 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk. The quake, occurring at a shallow depth of 19.3 kilometers, ranks as one of the most powerful ever recorded globally.
Widespread tsunami warnings
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific Basin, prompting evacuations in several countries. In Severo-Kurilsk, waves reaching up to 3-5 meters flooded coastal areas, displacing boats and affecting local industry. Nearly 2,700 residents were evacuated.
In Japan, about 1.9 million people received evacuation alerts as tsunami waves up to 1.3 meters reached its eastern shores. Hawaii recorded waves of up to 1.7 meters, suspending air travel and activating emergency shelters. Minor wave activity was also observed along the US West Coast and parts of Canada.
Authorities in most affected areas later downgraded or lifted tsunami alerts as wave heights remained below predicted levels.
Region remains on high alert
More than 50 aftershocks have followed the main quake, and seismologists warn that tremors of up to magnitude 7.5 may continue. Emergency services remain active, and infrastructure inspections are ongoing across Kamchatka and neighboring Sakhalin Oblast.
