PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, Russia, July 30, 2025 – The Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the tallest and most active volcanoes in Eurasia, erupted on Wednesday, spewing lava and ash just hours after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The seismic event, one of the strongest ever recorded, triggered widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific and caused minor injuries and damage in the remote region.
According to the Russian Academy of Sciences’ United Geophysical Service, the eruption began with a “descent of burning hot lava” flowing down the western slope of Klyuchevskoy, accompanied by powerful explosions and a fiery glow visible for miles. The volcano, standing at 4,750 meters (15,584 feet), is located approximately 280 miles north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital. The Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center issued an advisory, noting that ash plumes are moving eastward at 10 knots and could spread hundreds of kilometers in the coming hours.
The earthquake, described as the most powerful to hit the region since 1952, occurred at a shallow depth of 19.3 kilometers, with its epicenter 119 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It triggered tsunami waves reaching up to four meters in parts of Kamchatka and prompted evacuations in Russia, Japan, Hawaii, and other Pacific regions. While most tsunami warnings were downgraded by Wednesday evening, authorities in French Polynesia and parts of South America continued to urge residents to seek higher ground.
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey noted that while the earthquake did not directly cause the eruption, it likely intensified the volcanic activity, including ash emissions. Klyuchevskoy, which last erupted in 2023, had been showing signs of unrest in recent weeks, with its crater gradually filling with lava and emitting ash plumes, according to the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. No fatalities have been reported, though regional authorities confirmed several injuries, primarily from evacuations, including one hospital patient injured while jumping from a window. Buildings, including schools and public infrastructure, sustained minor to moderate damage, and power outages were reported in some areas.
Thick ashfall has impaired air quality and visibility, prompting a “red alert” for aircraft due to the ash plume’s altitude.Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Kamchatka is one of the world’s most seismically active regions, home to around 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are active. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has advised residents and travelers to avoid affected areas due to ongoing volcanic activity and aftershocks, with 24 aftershocks above magnitude 5.0 reported, including two reaching 6.9 and 6.3.Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the region braces for potential further seismic and volcanic activity.
