Strong eruption at Lokbatan mud volcano in Baku, Azerbaijan

A strong eruption took place at the Azerbaijani Lokbatan mud volcano on August 11, 2022, covering about 2 ha (4.94 acres) of land with mud. This is an active mud volcano whose last eruption took place in 2018. Since 1829, it erupted at least 27 times.

The eruption started at 09:36 LT and lasted about 4 minutes, according to Orkhan Abbasov, the leading researcher of the mud volcanism department of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (GGI) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).¹

The mud is estimated to be sourced from a depth of about 3 km (1.8 miles).

The new mud flow covers an approximate area of 2 ha (4.94 acres) and is estimated to be up to 90 cm (2.9 feet) thick.

“Therefore, we can consider it as a relatively strong eruption,” Abbasov said.

“In total, only one eruption was recorded. But small eruptions will continue, even if they do not rise to a height,” said Gurban Yetirmishli, the general director of the Republican Seismological Service Center (RSSC) at ANSA.

“During the volcanic eruption, which began with a roaring sound, no flames were observed. The employees of the relevant institutions were dispatched to the scene. For your information, we inform you that the first recorded eruption of the Lokbatan mud volcano, which is one of the most intensively erupting mud volcanoes in the world, dates back to 1829. Since then, the volcano has erupted 27 times, and the last eruption occurred in 2018,” GGI said in a statement.

References:

¹ Volcanic eruption in Lokbatan: “Ignite has occurred” – UPDATE + EXPLANATION + PHOTO/VIDEO – OXU – August 11, 2022

Featured image credit: Eruption at Lokbatan mud volcano on August 10, 2022. Credit: Baku TV (stillshot)