The towering Klyuchevskoy volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted on July 30, 2025, just hours after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked the region and triggered Pacific-wide tsunami warnings. Lava began streaming down the volcano’s western slope as explosions and ash plumes lit up the sky, according to the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Klyuchevskoy Volcano Eruption
- Location: Kamchatka Peninsula, ~450 km (280 miles) north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
- Height: 4,750 meters (15,584 feet) – the largest active volcano in the northern hemisphere
- Observations: Lava flows and explosions on the western slopes; ash plumes rising 3 km (1.9 miles) above sea level
- Predictions: Scientists had been forecasting the eruption for weeks as the crater steadily filled with lava and ash plumes
- Ash Advisory: The Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) warned ash could travel hundreds of kilometers eastward
Russian Academy of Sciences’ geophysical service posted on Telegram:
“A descent of burning hot lava is observed on the western slope. Powerful glow above the volcano, explosions.”
8.8-Magnitude Kamchatka Earthquake
The eruption followed one of the strongest earthquakes in modern history:
- Time: July 30, 2025 (11:24:50 PETT / 23:24:50 UTC on July 29)
- Location: ~119 km (74 miles) east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
- Magnitude: Initially reported as 8.0, later upgraded to 8.8, tying for the sixth-strongest quake ever recorded
- Depth: 19–20 km (shallow and more destructive)
- Cause: The quake struck along the Kuril–Kamchatka subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate slides beneath the North American Plate
Tsunami Warnings & Evacuations
- Russia: Tsunami waves up to 4 meters (13 feet) flooded parts of Kamchatka’s coastline; emergency evacuations declared
- Japan: Waves reached 1.3 meters, prompting the evacuation of nearly 2 million residents
- Hawaii: Tsunami sirens sounded; waves between 1.5–1.8 meters were recorded; residents were moved to higher ground
- US West Coast: Tsunami advisories led to beach closures in California, Oregon, and Alaska
- Pacific Nations: Warnings and advisories extended as far as New Zealand, French Polynesia, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, and Palau
Kamchatka: Land of Fire and Ice
Kamchatka is one of the world’s most geologically active regions:
- Home to around 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are active (NASA Earth Observatory)
- A hotspot for major earthquakes due to tectonic plate interactions
- Klyuchevskoy last erupted in 2023, but this eruption is one of its most intense in recent decades
What’s Next?
- Scientists are monitoring the link between the 8.8 quake and the eruption, as seismic activity often triggers volcanic unrest
- Air travel disruptions: Ash clouds could impact flight routes over the North Pacific
- Local authorities continue to issue evacuation orders and tsunami safety advisories