Russian volcano erupts for first time in over 500 years

The Krasheninnikov volcano erupted for the first time in over 500 years, with ash and smoke plumes reaching up to six kilometres into the air. Located in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve on the Kamchatka Peninsula, its last eruption was around 1463. Experts say the eruption was directly linked to an 8.8‑magnitude earthquake that struck the region on July 30, 2025. A day after the quake, the nearby Klyuchevskoy volcano also began erupting. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team reported that the ash plume drifted eastward over the Pacific Ocean, posing no threat to populated areas. Activity has also increased in two other volcanoes on the peninsula, with the Kambalny volcano possibly entering early stages of an eruption.