On August 18, 2024, the Shiveluch volcano, one of Russia’s most active volcanic sites located in the Kamchatka Peninsula, erupted with considerable force, propelling a massive ash cloud 5 kilometers (3 miles) into the sky. This significant volcanic event happened shortly after a powerful earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck off the east coast of Kamchatka. The eruption prompted a “code red” warning for aircraft due to the severe hazard posed by the ash cloud. Fortunately, reports indicate that no commercial flights were disrupted and there was no reported damage to aviation infrastructure.


The ash cloud from Shiveluch spread across 490 kilometers (304 miles) east and southeast of the volcano, impacting a broad area and raising concerns among local residents and authorities. In addition to Shiveluch’s eruption, the Ebeko volcano, situated on the Kuril Islands, also experienced an eruption, sending ash to a height of 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles). The Russian Institute of Volcanology and Seismology suggested that these eruptions might be connected to the recent seismic activity, but the precise relationship between the events is still uncertain. Scientists have warned that the ongoing seismic activity in the region could be a precursor to a more powerful earthquake, potentially occurring within the next 24 hours with a magnitude approaching 9.0. This warning brings to mind the historical magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck Kamchatka on November 4, 1952, which, despite causing substantial damage, resulted in no fatalities and generated waves that reached as far as Hawaii.