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.
A new vent opened at Dofan volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region, releasing powerful jets of steam, rocks, and mud on January 3, 2025. The development comes during a series of earthquakes recorded in the region since December 22 and raised concerns about a potential volcanic eruption — which would be the first on record.
A sudden eruption of Mount Raung startled a group of tourists hiking near its summit on December 24, 2024. The hikers managed to escape unharmed as ash plumes soared to a height of 8 km (26 000 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.).
A series of shallow earthquakes were recorded in recent days near the Fentale volcano in Ethiopia’s Main Ethiopian Rift region, raising concerns about a potential volcanic eruption. The last eruption at this volcano took place in 1820.
Volcanic activity at Kilauea transitioned to a more vigorous phase at 04:00 UTC on December 29, 2024, with lava fountains rising 20 to 30 m (60 to 100 feet) high and covering 20% of the Halema’uma’u floor.
Kilauea volcano in Hawai’i has resumed its eruptive activity after a second pause on December 26, 2024, with lava flows confined to the Halema’uma’u region. Park officials urged caution after a toddler narrowly avoided a fatal fall from a 120 m (400 feet) cliff while visiting the site on December 23.
The formation of 75 000 m2 (807 300 feet2) lava lobe has been observed at the Home Reef volcano between December 4 and 15, 2024.
Intensifying spattering activity in the northern area led to a lava overflow down the upper Sciara del Fuoco at Stromboli volcano in the Aeolian Islands, Italy on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. INGV reported it was accompanied by heightened seismic activity and increased tremor amplitudes.
A strong eruption at Raung volcano in East Java, Indonesia sent ash plumes as high as 8 km (26 000 feet) a.s.l. on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Authorities advised maintaining a 3 km (1.9 miles) exclusion zone around the summit.
An eruption at Kanlaon volcano emitted a dark ash plume reaching 1.2 km (0.75 miles) on Monday, December 23, 2024. Communities within a 6 km (3.7 miles) radius of the summit crater must remain evacuated due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles and ashfall, lava flows, rockfalls, and other related hazards. Local government units were advised to prepare for potential escalation to Alert Level 4.
