Volcano Erupts Following Powerful Earthquake off Russia’s East Coast

 A volcano has erupted following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia’s eastern region of Kamchatka, sending a massive plume of ash miles into the air, CNN reports, citing Russian state media.

The Shiveluch volcano, located about 280 miles from the coastal city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, erupted on Sunday morning local time, with the ash column reached an estimated height of 5 miles above sea level, Russian news agency TASS reported. The eruption also produced a significant flow of lava.

The earthquake, which struck about 55 miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, had a depth of about 30 miles, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). While no “major damage” was reported due to the quake, authorities are inspecting buildings for potential damage, with particular focus on social facilities.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry did not issue a tsunami warning following the earthquake. Earlier, the US Tsunami Warning System had issued a warning about potential hazardous tsunami waves within 300 kilometers of the epicenter.

Authorities are monitoring the situation and assessing any potential risks associated with the eruption and the earthquake’s aftershocks.