What do you get when a 500-year-old volcano suddenly wakes up? A sky full of ash—and a lot of questions.
In Russia’s far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, the long-dormant Krasheninnikov Volcano has erupted for the first time since the 15th century.
It shot a plume of ash six kilometers into the sky.
No towns are in immediate danger, officials say—but the timing is raising eyebrows.
Why Now?
Experts believe the eruption may be linked to last week’s massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the region.
That quake rattled the Pacific Ring of Fire, triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, and forced mass evacuations.
“This could very well be connected,” said Olga Girina of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team.
Just hours after the eruption, a fresh 7.0 quake struck the nearby Kuril Islands.
It sparked more tsunami warnings—even if waves were expected to be only 18cm high.
People in three coastal areas were told to stay away from the shore, just in case.
The Kamchatka Peninsula may be remote, but nature clearly hasn’t forgotten it.
After centuries of silence, Krasheninnikov has spoken. The question is—what else is coming?
