Russia Braces for Another Major Quake – U.S. Coastal Areas on Tsunami Watch

According to reports, the 7.0-magnitude earthquake shot ash clouds as high as 3 miles into the air – but a second, much bigger one might follow. 

The Earth Moved 

Russians living off the east coast of the country’s Kamchatka peninsula woke up to severe shaking early Sunday morning due to a major earthquake clocking in at a dreadful 7.0 magnitude.

But That’s Not All 

As if that wasn’t stressful enough, Russians also had to deal with a massive volcanic eruption. 

The Shiveluch volcano, one of Russia’s biggest and located on the far-eastern coast of the country, sent a massive cloud of ash into the air, big and dense enough to halt all aircraft. 

Location, Location, Location 

The Shiveluch volcano is situated approximately 280 miles from the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, home to about 180,000 people. 

What a Wake-Up 

Residents reported “severe shaking” as the quake hit at a depth of about 18 miles around 7:10 a.m. local time, causing “moderate to heavy damage” to structures in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Bad Time for Flying 

As per the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), a “red” code warning has been sent out, the highest level for aircraft alerts. 

A Scary Sight 

As a result of the volcanic eruption, ash was shot up into the air nearly three miles high, with the plume reaching as far as 930 miles to the country’s east-south-east area.

Safer on the Ground 

It’s estimated that the polluted air is dangerous enough to affect not only local flights in Russia, but also international flights and low-flying aircraft in the region. 

It’s Happened Before 

This is not the first time Shiveluch has caused such widespread chaos, as its last big eruption occurred in 2007.

Reportedly, the volcano has erupted about 60 times during the past 10,000 years. 

An Ancient Danger 

Shiveluch, which is estimated to be about 65,000 years old, forms part of the Klyuchevskaya volcano group, one of northern Kamchatka Peninsula’s most active stratovolcanoes in Russia.  

Could Have Been Much Worse

Sunday’s earthquake struck near a big naval base, but no damage or injuries were reported. 

No Tidal Waves 

Although the quake tremor did lead to the Russian Emergencies Ministry issuing a tsunami warning, it was later lifted. 

Not Over Yet? 

However, volcanologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences predicted that this might only be the start, as the tremors could lead to a much bigger earthquake.  

Brace Yourselves 

According to the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, it’s possible that a second earthquake could hit “within 24 hours”, with a magnitude as high as 9.0.  

Darkened Skies 

A video was also released by the institute, showing the cloud of ash hovering over Shiveluch, which extended over 304 miles east and southeast of the volcano. 

Warnings in the US 

As per the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was “the result of reverse faulting”, as moderate to large tremors regularly occur in the area. 

The Science Stuff 

The official statement released by the USGS reads: “At the location of this earthquake, the Pacific place is moving west-northwest with respect to the North America and Eurasia plates. Some authors divide this region into several microplates that together define the relative motions between the larger Pacific, North America, and Eurasia plates; in this depiction, the Kamchatka Peninsula is located on the Okhotsk microplate, which is part of the North America plate.”

Hawaii Seems Safe 

The US National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu issued a warning, predicting that fatal tsunami waves could hit the coast within 300 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. 

Fortunately, it was later announced that this possibility wasn’t a threat anymore.  

As Far as Japan 

The degree of the ash from the Shiveluch volcano was so gigantic and dense that it was even shown on a map issued by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI).

According to the Tokyo-based Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), “explosive activity” is still ongoing. 

Clearly Visible 

As per the VAAC’s description, the rising ash plume could be seen about 8.5km in the air and traveling east at about 70mph. 

Dangerous Territory 

A previous earthquake in Kamchatka, which struck on November 4th, 1952, and caused massive damage, was measured as a 9.0 quake. 

Although that earthquake led to 30-foot waves as far as Hawaii, no deaths were reported. 

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