Viral: Volcano Erupts Following 7 Magnitude Earthquake off Russia’s East Coast

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s eastern region of Kamchatka, triggering the eruption of the Shiveluch volcano. According to state-run media, the volcano, located approximately 280 miles from the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, released a towering column of ash miles into the atmosphere.

“According to visual evaluations, the ash column is rising as high as 8 kilometers (5 miles) above the sea level,” TASS reported Sunday morning local time, adding the volcano had released a gush of lava.

The quake, which the US Geological Survey (USGS) identified as having an epicenter about 55 miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and a depth of approximately 30 miles, caused significant seismic activity in the region.

Despite the magnitude of the quake, TASS reported that there was no “major damage” in the area. Authorities are currently inspecting buildings for potential structural issues, with a particular focus on social facilities.

In the aftermath of the quake, the Russian Emergencies Ministry did not issue a tsunami warning, although the US Tsunami Warning System had initially cautioned that “hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300km [approx 186 miles] of the epicenter along the coasts of Russia.”

The situation is being closely monitored as the region deals with the impact of both the earthquake and the subsequent volcanic eruption.