Russia’s Krasheninnikov volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for the first time in recorded history on August 2, sending a plume of ash up to 6km into the atmosphere, according to the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT).

"An explosive eruption of the Krasheninnikov Volcano began at 4:50 p.m. GMT on August 2, spewing ash to the altitude of up to 3-4 km above the sea level. This is the first eruption of this volcano in the history of observations," the organization said in a statement, reports TASS. 

The event is believed to be linked to the massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off the Pacific coast last week.

The eruption marks the first confirmed activity at Krasheninnikov in more than six centuries. Although the twin-peaked stratovolcano has long been recognised as dormant, no historical eruptions had ever been documented until now. The volcano, located in the eastern part of the peninsula, had been monitored in recent decades but showed no signs of imminent activity until the seismic event on July 29.

“The eruption column rose to 5–6km in height,” KVERT reported on August 2, adding that ash was drifting eastwards over uninhabited areas. A code orange aviation warning was issued, advising aircraft to avoid the region due to the risk of ash cloud interference with jet engines.

As bne IntelliNews reported, the melting icecaps could cause more, and more violent, earthquakes as the weight of the ice on tectonic plates eases make it easier for them to move.

Volcanologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences said the timing strongly suggests a causal link between the eruption and the recent earthquake. “Large tectonic movements can alter subsurface pressure and crack previously sealed magma chambers,” said Dr Yelena Shustova, a senior geophysicist at the Kamchatka Institute of Volcanology. “This kind of activation is rare but not unprecedented.”

The 8.8 quake, one of the strongest in Russia’s modern history, occurred on July 29 in the Kuril-Kamchatka trench zone. Although no casualties were reported, it triggered tsunami watches across the Pacific basin and led to evacuations in parts of the peninsula.

Krasheninnikov’s twin calderas and isolated location have made it a low priority in Russia’s volcanic risk hierarchy. With this eruption, authorities have increased monitoring and deployed additional equipment to the site to track further developments.

Kamchatka is home to more than 300 volcanoes, of which around 30 are considered active. The last major eruption in the region occurred in 2023 at Shiveluch, which also produced large ash clouds and forced temporary flight diversions.

“Nature always finds a way to surprise us,” said Dr Shustova.