Rain-triggered landslides in Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia, killed at least 52 people earlier this week, with officials saying on March 12, 2026 that dozens of others were still missing. Authorities said rescue teams were continuing the search for missing people as the risk of additional slope failures remained elevated.
Ash and sulfur dioxide released by Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, erupting for the first time in at least 12 000 years, disrupted regional air travel between November 24 and 25, 2025. The eruption produced a high-altitude plume reaching about 14 km (46 000 feet) above sea level, spreading eastward across the Arabian Peninsula and India, where aviation authorities issued advisories, rerouted long-haul flights, and temporarily suspended operations on affected routes.
Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupted for the first time in at least 12 000 years on November 23, 2025, marking its first confirmed Holocene activity. The eruption generated a plume rising to about 14 km (46 000 feet) above sea level before drifting toward the Arabian Peninsula. Updated satellite data from IASI-C on November 24 detected a large SO2 plume between 5 km (16 400 feet) and 17 km (55 800 feet), with a centre-of-mass height near 16 km (52 500 feet) and a total mass loading of 58.4 kt.
A sudden explosive eruption at Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression produced a dense ash plume on the morning of July 15, 2025, interrupting its recent phase of steady lava activity.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.5 hit the Afar region, Ethiopia, at 18:53 UTC (21:53 LT) on March 16, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Nearly a month after satellites detected massive methane plumes spewing from Ethiopia’s Mount Fentale on January 31, 2025, new data shows emissions have declined since February 9—yet ongoing seismic unrest, including a magnitude 6.0 earthquake on February 14, keeps scientists and locals on high alert.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit near Fentale volcano, Ethiopia at 20:28 UTC on February 14, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A surge of lava at Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression advanced to the camping huts on January 13, 2025, for the first time in 20 years. The effusive eruption remains at an elevated level.
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.
The increase in seismic activity has prompted the relocation of approximately 80 000 residents to safer areas in Ethiopia’s Afar and Oromia regions.
