Russia’s Krasheninnikov volcano erupted for the first time in centuries on August 3, sending ash and gas nearly four miles into the atmosphere—less than 150 miles away from the epicenter of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck on July 29 .

The mountain is one of eight active volcanoes in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and part of the Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc. The eruption began around 6 A.M. local time on Sunday (2 P.M. EDT on August 2), when personnel in the area noticed ash, steam and gas escaping from the slopes of the volcano, according to a Russian-language statement posted on the nature reserve’s website .

READ MORE : Why the Russian Earthquake Didn’t Cause a Huge Tsunami

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscri

See Full Page