Intense seismo-volcanic crisis near Dofen volcano forces thousands to evacuate, Ethiopia
A series of strong earthquakes, a newly opened volcanic vent, and the appearance of large cracks near the long-dormant Dofen volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region triggered the evacuation of thousands of people on January 4, 2025.
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
Authorities in Ethiopia have launched an evacuation of thousands of people living near Dofen volcano (also known as Dofan) after an M5.7 earthquake that struck at 03:52 LT (00:52 UTC) on January 4.
This earthquake is part of a larger seismo-volcanic crisis affecting the region since December 22, 2024, with dozens of moderate to strong earthquakes, large cracks opening around the volcano, and a powerful new vent in Dulecha District of Afar Region shooting out a mix of gas, rocks, and mud.
The earthquakes started on December 22, with USGS registering 65 quakes with magnitudes ranging from 4 to 5.7. According to locals, at least 30 homes have collapsed and several others sustained damage.
The evacuation operation is expected to take several days because of the scale of the affected area and logistical challenges including damaged roads and disrupted infrastructure. Residents are being relocated to temporary shelters in nearby safer zones.
Large cracks appearing in multiple districts including Haruka District’s Kelat Buri Kebele have added urgency to the evacuation.
The cracks have rendered an important water pump supplying agricultural fields inoperable. The ground in some areas has sunk into valleys and intensified fears among the local population.
The Ethiopian Geological Institute has reported that volcanic mudflows are complicating evacuation logistics.
Footage from Mount Dofan shows steam and gas emissions and raises concerns of an imminent eruption — which would be the first known eruption at this volcano in history.
A new vent opened on Mount Dofen and released steam, gas, rocks, and mud on January 3. The development followed an M5.5 earthquake recorded at 17:01 UTC approximately 44 km (27 miles) northeast (NE) of Awash at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The vent activity is believed to result from magma intrusion beneath the surface which can lead to hydrothermal or phreatic explosions.
The vent’s opening showed an increase in activity and prompted local authorities to issue warnings for potential evacuations. Residents in towns such as Awash (population of 11 400) and Metahara (population of 23 400) have reported feeling continuous tremors throughout the night.
“The steam eruptions may not necessarily lead to a full-blown volcanic eruption, but caution is essential given the region’s history of geological activity,” Professor Atalay Ayele from Addis Ababa University stated.
There are about 1 900 people living within 5 km (3 miles) of Dofen volcano, 12 450 within 10 km (6 miles), and 54 930 within 30 km (19 miles).
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Satellite imagery from December 28 captured by Sentinel-2 showed no visible signs of lava flows but experts indicated that subsurface activity could lead to further developments.
Historical data suggest that both Mount Dofan and Fentale volcanoes are located along the tectonically active East African Rift System which is making the area prone to seismic and volcanic events.
The East African Rift System (EARS) spans over 3 000 km (1 860 miles) and is characterized by tectonic plate divergence, frequent earthquakes, and volcanic activity.
Mount Dofan stands at 1 151 m (3 776 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.) and has a history of fumarolic activity with sulfur deposits observed on its flanks. The system’s geological processes have shaped the landscape with ongoing rifting and magmatism contributing to seismic events.
In 1989, a swarm of 25 earthquakes greater than M4.2 struck the Afar Triple Junction.
References:
1 M5.8 – 56 km SSE of Abomsa, Ethiopia – USGS – January 4, 2025
2 M5.8 earthquake, Ethiopia – EMSC – January 4, 2025
3 Strong earthquakes near Fentale volcano spark eruption concerns, Ethiopia – The Watchers – December 30, 2024
4 Powerful vent opens at Dofan volcano as seismic crisis hits Afar region, Ethiopia – The Watchers – January 3, 2025
5 Ethiopia: Thousands evacuate over volcanic eruption fears – DW – January 4, 2025
6 Ethiopia is evacuating thousands facing dangerous volcanic activity in a remote area – The Washington Post – January 4, 2025
7 Ethiopia: Evacuations ongoing amid increased volcanic activity in southern Afar region as of Jan. 3 – CRISIS24 – January 3, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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