A powerful earthquake swarm started in the NW part of Bárðarbunga caldera, Iceland at 06:08 UTC on January 14, 2025. Initial data indicate that dozens of quakes occurred in rapid succession, hinting at possible volcanic or tectonic unrest deep beneath the ice. The current activity may be similar to the beginning of the swarm that occurred before the 2014 Holuhraun eruption.
Seismic readings indicated the onset of a glacial outburst flood from Grímsvötn volcano on January 13, 2025. Grímsvatn floods have occurred almost annually since November 2021. There are examples of volcanic eruptions occurring due to pressure relief in Grímsvötn after water gushes from there. However, glacial outburst floods have occurred much more frequently without volcanic eruptions.
Ethiopia’s southern Afar and northern Oromia regions are experiencing an ongoing seismo-volcanic crisis that has injured two people, displaced over 60 000 residents, and caused extensive infrastructure damage since December 22, 2024.
An earthquake swarm began in the Campi Flegrei area of southern Italy at 07:58 LT (06:58 UTC) on January 13, 2025.
Weak to moderate steam and gas plumes with traces of volcanic ash continue at White Island volcano, New Zealand, on January 13, 2025. The Alert Level remains at 2 while the Aviation Color Code has been raised to Orange.
A strong eruption at Ibu volcano produced lava fountains reaching hundreds of meters and ash plumes rising to 5.5 km (18 000 feet) a.s.l., on January 11, 2025, accompanied by volcanic lightning and active lava dome growth. The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange following an upgrade to Red on January 11 for a brief time.
Ground deformation monitoring by the Kanlaon Volcano Network (KVN) has detected significant inflation in the middle to upper portions of the volcano’s eastern edifice since 19:20 LT on January 10, 2025, with data indicating a potential eruption driven by pressurization within the shallow magma conduit. PHIVOLCS maintains Alert Level 3, originally raised on December 9, 2024, and there is presently an increased chance for sudden explosive eruptions to occur and endanger communities at risk with life-threatening volcanic hazards.
New activity/unrest was reported for 6 volcanoes from January 1 to 7, 2025. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 21 volcanoes.
Seismic activity near Grjótárvatn has increased with a tremor episode on January 2, 2025, indicating a potential deep magmatic intrusion. The IMO has reported earthquakes at depths of 15 to 20 km (9.3 to 12.4 miles) which suggests subsurface magma movement without surface deformation.
The increase in seismic activity has prompted the relocation of approximately 80 000 residents to safer areas in Ethiopia’s Afar and Oromia regions.
