The Krachineniikov volcano in far eastern Russia recorded its first eruption in six centuries following a powerful earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale.

The Kamchatka Volcano Monitoring Team reported that an ash cloud rose to an altitude of 6,000 meters, posing no direct threat to residential areas.

Scientists speculate that the earthquake and aftershocks awakened the volcano, a rare occurrence since the 2011 Japan earthquake.