A series of shocks, first a massive earthquake and then a volcanic eruption, have had a major impact on Russia’s daily life. The tsunami has forced evacuations.
The Klyuchevskoy volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula has begun erupting, and the Russian Academy of Sciences‘ United Geophysical Service reported in a post that it had seen “powerful flashes, explosions” and “steaming hot lava flows” on its western slopes. People as far south as New Zealand have been warned that a tsunami triggered by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake early Wednesday morning has triggered waves in the Pacific Ocean and prompted evacuations.
Kamchatka is one of the world’s most volcanic regions, considered seismically active, with a total of 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are active.
The volcano is located about 280 miles (450 kilometers) from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The volcano has recorded lava flows on its western slopes along with eruptions, according to a report by the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Geophysical Service. The volcano has also been spewing ash and ash plumes, and the crater is slowly filling with lava. Scientists were predicting an eruption due to such movements.
Ash plumes were sent up to 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) above sea level, Russian news agencies reported.
The earthquake and tsunami have prompted evacuations and emergency declarations from Russia to Hawaii.
The Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center said the ash was moving east at 10 knots and could spread hundreds of kilometers.
What to do in an emergency tsunami
- Use a weather radio or emergency alert.
- Know the warning signs of a tsunami {Be alert for natural signs of a tsunami, such as strong tremors, sudden retreat of sea water, or loud ocean noise}
- Stay connected to the weather.
- Pay attention to weather radios or emergency alerts.
- Keep your home and surroundings safe.
- Avoid building near the coast.