Just when you thought 2024 couldn’t get any crazier, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Russia shakes loose a volcano, sending ash clouds 5 kilometers into the sky.
A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia, triggering the Shiveluch volcano to erupt on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The massive seismic event occurred early in the morning, at 7:10 AM local time, causing severe ground shaking that set off a chain reaction.
Negative impacts were felt immediately as Shiveluch spewed ash, steam, and lava high into the skies. This eruption is now posing significant risks to nearby communities and creating major disruptions in air travel.
The crisis didn’t stop with Shiveluch. The Ebeko volcano on the Kuril Islands also erupted, spewing ash up to 2.5 kilometers high. Residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky reported experiencing severe shaking like they hadn’t felt “in a long time.”
“in a long time.” – Russian news outlets cited residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Volcanologists have painted a grim picture of what’s to come, warning of a potential stronger earthquake, possibly even reaching a magnitude of 9.0, within 24 hours. The region is on high alert, bracing for further destruction.
The massive plume of volcanic ash from Shiveluch stretched over 490 kilometers towards the east and southeast, reaching tens of thousands of feet in altitude. This prompted authorities to issue a brief “code red” warning for aviation.
“code red” – Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team reported
Despite these warnings, no commercial flights were disrupted, and air traffic returned to normal within hours. However, the lingering threat of volcanic ash continues to endanger aviation safety.
The initial 7.0 magnitude earthquake’s epicenter was 108 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and occurred at a depth of 6 kilometers under the Pacific Ocean. The US Geological Survey reported the quake resulted from reverse faulting due to tectonic movements involving the Pacific, North America, and Eurasia plates.
“the result of reverse faulting” – USGS explained
The most terrifying part? Scientists warned that another earthquake, potentially stronger and approaching a magnitude of 9.0, could follow within 24 hours. This kind of back-to-back seismic activity could spell even more chaos for the already beleaguered region.
Russia's Shiveluch volcano continues to shoot ash into the sky after beginning its explosive eruption over the weekend following a powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean.https://t.co/eVfYfeBWxE
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) August 18, 2024
Historically, the Kamchatka Peninsula has seen significant volcanic activity. Catastrophic eruptions in 1854 and 1964 involved major lava dome collapses and debris avalanches, causing widespread destruction. The eruption of Shiveluch today brings back grim memories of those earlier disasters.
Authorities have urged locals to stay alert and take precautions. So far, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or major infrastructure damage. However, the potential for further seismic and volcanic activity means the risk is far from over.
This world may seem on fire with one disaster after another, but we persevere. Stay safe, stay vigilant, and keep informed.
