Russian volcano erupts after 500 years following 8.8-magnitude earthquake–Watch video here

A once-silent volcano has burst to life in Russia's Far East. The Krasheninnikov volcano erupted for the first time in centuries just days after a massive earthquake rattled the region. Locals woke to the news on Sunday as ash billowed into the sky.

When and where the eruption happened
Krasheninnikov, standing 1,800 metres tall, erupted overnight on 3 August. Located in the Kamchatka Peninsula, the volcano had not erupted for nearly 500 years. The eruption sent ash nearly 6 kilometres into the air. Russia’s emergency ministry confirmed no nearby settlements were at risk.

The eruption came after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck the region on 30 July. Within hours of that quake, the Klyuchevskoy volcano also erupted. Now, a second tremor, this time of magnitude 7.0, was recorded on 3 August near the Kuril Islands. A tsunami warning was issued but later withdrawn.

Watch video:

What experts say about possible links
Scientists believe the two eruptions could be connected to recent seismic activity. The Kamchatka region sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where quakes and eruptions often follow one another. According to the US Geological Survey, strong earthquakes can trigger eruptions if magma is already under pressure.