Early on Wednesday, a powerful earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck the Russian Far East region, marking the strongest earthquake in the area since 1952. Following the earthquake, the highest volcano on the Eurasian continent, Klyuchevskoy Volcano, erupted. The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings in various coastal areas along the Pacific Ocean, leading to severe disruptions in flights, railways, and tourism activities.
According to the Russian earthquake monitoring agency, on July 30 local time, a strong earthquake of magnitude 8.8 hit 126 kilometers southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The earthquake’s depth was approximately 19 kilometers, followed by over 200 aftershocks within the next 24 hours. Shortly after the earthquake, the Klyuchevskoy Volcano, the highest active volcano in Eurasia, started erupting with a volcanic ash column reaching about 6,000 meters and spreading eastward.
The earthquake triggered tsunami waves up to 4 meters high along the coast of Kamchatka, with observed wave heights of 60 centimeters in Hokkaido, Japan, and 30 centimeters in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. This led to tsunami warnings being issued for Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast, Guam, and various Pacific islands. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center urged people to stay away from the coast, with the alert potentially lasting for 24 hours.
The Russian government has declared a state of emergency and evacuated approximately 2,700 people from Severo-Kurilsk and its surrounding areas. The Japan Meteorological Agency also ordered evacuations in several coastal areas, and employees at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were briefly evacuated. Reports indicate some buildings suffered damage and minor injuries, with no significant casualties reported.
Geological experts have noted that a new volcanic cone suddenly formed on the Klyuchevskoy Volcano following the strong earthquake, possibly due to the quake opening up a vent for eruption, leading to rapid accumulation of lava and volcanic ash. While the direct correlation between the earthquake and volcanic eruption has yet to be confirmed, it highlights the intense tectonic activity in the Kamchatka region, where volcanoes and earthquakes intersect significantly.
The event has had a significant impact on transportation and tourism industries. Multiple flights to Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands were canceled, several railways and ferries in Hokkaido, Japan, temporarily ceased operation. Numerous tour operators, including those in Alaska and Hawaii, received cancellations, while hotels and transport services in Fukushima and northeastern Japan were affected by evacuation measures.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Japan Meteorological Agency continue to issue warnings, reminding people to stay away from the coastline. Travelers are advised to have their passports and insurance ready to cope with flight changes or emergency evacuations. The Kamchatka Volcano Observatory and Natural Park have been closed, and travelers to the Kuril Islands and along the coast of Hokkaido are recommended to contact hotels and travel agencies to reschedule their trips.