A volcano in Russia has suddenly erupted, sending lava flowing down into an area that was rocked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake just hours earlier.

Explosions rang out at the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Russia’s highly tectonically active Kamchatka Peninsula amid the chaos on Wednesday afternoon, the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Survey confirmed. The eruption triggered a "descent of burning hot lava," it added.

Authorities are continuing to monitor both volcanic and seismic activity in the area.

Zahra Khaliq

Column of ash reaching '3km above sea level' emitted

The Klyuchevskoy volcano in Russia emitted a column of ash reaching 3 kilometers above sea level, according to reports.

Live images of the eruption captured a bright orange spark and smoke rising from an area close to the top of the volcano.

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Klyuchevskoy has 'erupted several times in recent years'

Klyuchevskoy has erupted several times in recent years. It's one of the most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, with numerous eruptions recorded over the past few decades. Recent reports indicate eruptions in 2020, 2022 and 2023, where it produced huge ash columns and forced schools in nearby towns to close.

KEY EVENT

New image of volcano emerges

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Scientists had been predicting eruption 'for weeks'

Scientists are said to have been predicting the Klyuchevskoy eruption for weeks after the volcano's crater started gradually filling with lava and the mountain began emitting ash plumes, Newsweek reports.

Visible streams of lava were seen pouring from the Western side of the volcano shortly after it erupted this afternoon, the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences' geophysical service said.

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No deaths or substantial damage so far

There have been no deaths or substantial damage since the earthquake struck Russia this morning - and since the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted hours later.

There have however been reports of people injured in the evacuated town of Severo-Kurilsk.

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Volcanic activity recorded at the site yesterday

Volcanic activity had reportedly been recorded at Klyuchevskoy yesterday, but the recent eruption appears to have been triggered by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake and its more than 200 aftershocks.

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Volcano erupted on highly active 'Ring of Fire'

The volcano erupted on the highly tectonically active 'Ring of Fire' in Kamchatka and Russia's Far East.

Along with many active volcanoes, huge earthquakes are also a feature of the so-called Ring of Fire. All 10 of the most powerful earthquakes recorded in modern history were located there.

Kamchatka is also often referred to as the "land of fire and ice," housing around 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are active, according to NASA.

An 8.8 magnitude quake hit the area this morning (
Image:
Anadolu via Getty Images)
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What we know so far about Russia's earthquake

  • The earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka was one of the strongest ever recorded.
  • It sent tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the US West Coast.
  • The Department of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring recorded a tsunami wave up to four meters high in Kamchatka.
  • A state of emergency was declared in Russian's Severo-Kurilsk which became flooded.
  • Kamchatka Ministry of Health says there are casualties, but all are in satisfactory condition and without serious injuries, RIA reports.
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Where is the Klyuchevskoy volcano?

The Klyuchevskoy volcano is located around 280 miles north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

It is one of the highest volcanoes in the world and has erupted multiple times in recent years. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is still reeling from four metre high tsunami waves that damaged buildings and caused severe flooding in the city this morning.

KEY EVENT

Explosion triggered 'a descent of burning hot lava'

In a statement posted to Telegram, the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Survey said: "A descent of burning hot lava is observed on the western slope. Powerful glow above the volcano, explosions."

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Last eruption forced schools to close

The Klyuchevskoy volcano also erupted in October 2023, which led to schools in nearby towns closing due to the huge ash columns produced.

The volcano is known to be the tallest active volcano in Eurasia (
Image:
Alamy Stock Photo)
KEY EVENT

Watch: Moment Klyuchevskoy volcano erupts amid earthquake chaos

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Eruption came just hours after 8.8 quake

The eruption came hours after a huge earthquake rocked Russia, triggering a tsunami of up to 4 metres on the country's east coast. Buildings were left damaged while millions were forced to evacuate in the region and across most of Japan's east coast.

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Image shows lava spewing from site

A live image taken during the eruption shows part of the Klyuchevskoy volcano glowing.

It began erupting hours after Wednesday's powerful earthquake in the Pacific.

The Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted hours after the 8.8 quake (
Image:
Kbgsras/Telegram)
KEY EVENT

Lava seen flowing down Western slope

The eruption triggered a powerful glow and sent lava flowing down the volcano's western slope, as seen in clips shared to Telegram by the Geophysical Survey, News.Az reports.

The Klyuchevskoy volcano is known to be the tallest active volcano in Eurasia.

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When did the volcano erupt?

The Klyuchevskoy volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Survey.