Earthquake in Russia causes 7 volcanoes to 'wake up' at the same time

The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) has just confirmed that a strong earthquake that occurred on July 30 off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula triggered the activity of seven volcanoes at the same time, a rare phenomenon that scientists call a "parade of volcanic eruptions".

According to the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the RAS, this is the first time in nearly 300 years that the Kamchatka region has witnessed so many volcanic eruptions at the same time.

Among them, Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the tallest and most active volcanoes in the world , spewed ash up to 6km on August 4.

The earthquake also caused the Krasheninnikov volcano to erupt after nearly 600 years of “sleep”. The lava flow was last recorded in 1463, according to local officials.

"We assume that the earthquake activated underground magma chambers, providing additional energy and leading to increased volcanic activity," said Professor Alexey Ozerov, director of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Satellite and drone images show large plumes of smoke rising from the volcanoes, while ash covers large areas. However, the Kamchatka Emergency Situations Ministry said there were no residential areas in the path of the ash, and no tourist groups were recorded near the danger zone.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world, with 29 active volcanoes, according to the USGS. During this earthquake, three previously dormant volcanoes suddenly erupted, showing the magnitude of the geological impact.