Significant damage reported, two injured as intense seismo-volcanic crisis hits Main Ethiopian Rift

An intense seismo-volcanic crisis is still affecting Ethiopia’s southern Afar and northern Oromia regions near the Fentale and Dofan volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift. As a result, at least 2 people have been injured and significant damage to homes and structures has been reported.

The crisis started on December 22, 2024, with a series of moderate to strong earthquakes centered near Fentale and Dofan volcanoes. To January 13, 2025, the USGS has registered 124 earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.1 and 5.7. The most recent was M4.4 at 20:59 UTC on January 12.

In addition to intense earthquakes, the region has witnessed large cracks in multiple districts including Haruka District’s Kelat Buri Kebele. 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.

Expanding fissures in the ground have raised concerns about the Kesem/Sabure Dam which holds a substantial volume of water. Any structural failure could result in catastrophic flooding downstream and can endanger hundreds of thousands of lives while the dam is engineered to withstand earthquakes up to an M5.6.

On January 3, a powerful vent opened at Dofan volcano, releasing a mix of gas, rocks, and mud. Videos captured at the site showed jets of steam escaping from a crack in the ground. It remains unclear whether this vent existed before or it formed recently.

On January 13, UN OCHA reported at least 2 people have been injured by the seismic activity and more than 60 000 people evacuated the region — of an estimated 80 000 who are advised to relocate.

The earthquake has caused damage to dozens of homes, health centers, schools, roads, and critical infrastructure.

At least 16 schools have been severely damaged and 21 partially.

The activity is believed to be linked to magma intrusion beneath the surface.

Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) is a 1 000 km (620 miles) long tectonic zone, part of the East African Rift System (EARS), where the African Plate is splitting into two smaller plates.

It is a geologically active region where the African Plate is gradually splitting into two smaller plates — the Nubian Plate to the west and the Somalian Plate to the east.

This rifting process, driven by tectonic forces, is responsible for creating deep valleys, volcanic activity, and seismic events throughout the region. The MER is dotted with active and dormant volcanoes, such as Fentale and Dofen, and is characterized by frequent earthquakes, ground fissures, and magma intrusion.

References:

¹ Ethiopia – Seismic and volcanic activity, update – DG ECHO – January 13, 2025