Klyuchevskoy Volcano Erupts After 8.8 Earthquake, Tsunami Alerts Issued Across Pacific

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, 2025, marking the strongest seismic event in the region since 1952 and generating tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including in Japan, the U.S., and Chile. Hours after the earthquake, the Klyuchevskoy (Kliuchevskoi) volcano, Eurasia's highest active volcano at around 4,850 meters, erupted with incandescent lava flows, explosive activity, and ash plumes reaching several kilometers high. Scientists had been monitoring increased volcanic activity prior to the quake, and the seismic event likely triggered or intensified the eruption. The eruption prompted heightened monitoring efforts and advisories for aviation due to ash dispersal, while thousands of residents were evacuated as a precaution. Despite the scale of the natural disasters, no fatalities have been reported, though there was material damage and injuries linked to the earthquake. The events have renewed attention on the region's geological volatility, with the volcano's activity continuing amid ongoing aftershocks.