On August 18, 2024, the Shiveluch volcano, located on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, erupted with great intensity, sending a vast ash cloud 5 kilometers into the atmosphere. This significant event followed a powerful earthquake, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale and occurred off the east coast of Kamchatka. As a result of the eruption, a “code red” alert was issued for aircraft, as the ash cloud posed a serious threat to aviation. Despite the gravity of the situation, reports confirmed that no commercial flights were disrupted and there was no damage to aviation infrastructure.

The ash cloud from Shiveluch spread across 490 kilometers to the east and southeast, affecting a wide area and raising serious concerns among local residents and authorities. Additionally, the Ebeko volcano on the Kuril Islands also erupted, sending ash 2.5 kilometers into the sky. The Russian Institute of Volcanology and Seismology suggested that these volcanic eruptions might be associated with the recent seismic activity in the region, although the exact relationship remains uncertain. Scientists have issued a warning that the ongoing seismic activity could foreshadow a more powerful earthquake, potentially reaching a magnitude of 9.0. This warning brings to mind the historic magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck Kamchatka on November 4, 1952, causing significant damage but fortunately resulting in no fatalities.