Strong earthquakes near Vental volcano raise eruption fears, Ethiopia

Seismic activity around the Vental Volcano in Ethiopia has increased over the past two days with multiple earthquakes of magnitude ranging from 4.3 to 5.1.

The largest earthquake occurred at 22:20 UTC on 29 December with a magnitude of M5.1 and was epicentered about 46 km (28 mi) north of Metahara and 119 km (74 mi) northeast of Nazaret.

“Over the past few days, seismic activity in the Awash region has increased significantly. Volcanologist Tom Pfeiffer of VolcanoDiscovery noted that the true number of earthquakes is unknown because there is no seismic network (or at least no publicly available network) covering the area and only The biggest events on global networks.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of ten kilometers and was felt by residents of the region, including the capital, Addis Ababa.

The latest M4.7 earthquake struck at 07:42 UTC on 30 December about 23 km (14 mi) southeast of Metahara. It originated at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), like previous tremors.

“The risk of a new volcanic eruption in this part of the African Rift is now higher than before, because the most likely cause of earthquakes is the leakage of (surface) magma, which in turn can easily break the surface and produce an eruption,” said Dr. Pfeiffer, urging people in the region to To be careful.

Map showing recent seismic activity near Vental Volcano in the Main Ethiopian Rift Zone in Ethiopia, recorded between December 29 and December 30. Image credit: SAM/The Watchers

Residents of nearby towns reported tremors throughout the night, indicating the possibility of many small earthquakes that global seismic networks cannot detect.

The increased seismic activity is believed to be related to shallow magma seeping under the Vental volcano. Infiltration would likely break the surface and trigger a volcanic eruption.

Experts warn that communities within the affected area must remain alert. The central regions witnessed more than 7 tremors during the night hours, which indicates that the actual number of earthquakes may be higher than those recorded.

A team from the local Geological Survey, while on an exploratory trip in the area, reported feeling multiple tremors in the town of Awash, located near the epicenter of the earthquake. This activity is consistent with the historical behavior of the Vental volcano, which last erupted in 1820 AD and produced flows of basalt lava from a fissure on its southern side.

Vental Volcano is located at the northern end of the Main Ethiopian Rift, a tectonically active area formed by the East African Rift System.

Satellite image of Fentale volcano acquired on December 28, 2024. Credit: CopernicusEU/Sentinel-2, EO Browser, Satellite image of The Watchers Fentale volcano acquired on December 28, 2024. Credit: CopernicusEU/Sentinel-2, EO Browser, The Watchers Fentale volcano satellite image acquired on December 28, 2024. Credit: CopernicusEU/Sentinel-2, EO Browser, The Watchers Earthquakes discovered by the USGS near Vental Volcano, Ethiopia from December 21 to 30, 2024. Source: TW/SAM, Google

The rift system is characterized by frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to the separation of the Nuba and Somali plates. Earthquakes in this region occur at shallow depths of less than 25 km (15.5 mi) and are often associated with magmatic processes.

The geological history of Ventali includes a 2.5 by 4.5 km (1.6 by 2.8 mi) caldera formation with steep walls defining its summit. The floor of the caldera is marked by fresh lava flows that indicate continuous volcanic activity over thousands of years. The most recent volcanic eruptions in the area were rhyolitic and trachytic in formation that produced lava flows and ash deposits.

The affected area is home to more than 3.4 million people within a 100 km (62 miles) radius of the Vental volcano. Nearby towns, including Metahara (population 23,400) and Awash (population 11,400) are at risk. The seismic activity sparked a state of panic among residents, although no damage or injuries have been reported so far.

Authorities and monitoring agencies have issued warnings urging residents to prepare for possible evacuations if volcanic activity intensifies. The lack of a local seismic network complicates efforts to accurately monitor the situation, but global seismic data and satellite images provide important insights into the evolving threat.

The East African Rift System (EARS), extending over 3,000 km (1,864 mi), is the most prominent continental rift in the world. The system includes active volcanoes, natural rifting, and earthquakes caused by the deflection of tectonic plates. In the Ethiopian Rift, seismic events are often associated with the movement of magma within the Earth's crust leading to tectonic earthquakes and tectonic volcanism.

Past events in the region include the 1989 earthquake swarm at the Afar triple junction which experienced 25 earthquakes with a magnitude greater than M4.2 over a 48-hour period.

The eruption history of Ventali volcano includes two confirmed eruptions from the Holocene era. The most recent eruption in 1820 AD included basalt lava flows from a fissure 4 km (2.5 mi) long, while an earlier eruption around 1250 AD produced extensive rhyolitic flows. Historical accounts describe the destruction of an Ethiopian town and church during a volcanic eruption in the 13th century.

References:

Ethiopia Earthquake 1 – EMSC – December 30, 2024

2 Ethiopia Earthquake – EMSC – December 29, 2024

3 Ethiopia Earthquake – USGS – December 30, 2024

4 Ventale – GVP – Accessed 30 December 2024

5 Fantal Volcano (Ethiopia): Intensifying earthquakes and increasing risk of volcanic eruption – Written by Tom Pfeiffer – VolcanoDiscovery – December 29, 2024

Article writer profile

Rishika holds a Master's degree in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she received a Gold Medal, and an MCA from Mysore University, Karnataka, India. She previously worked as a Research Assistant at the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a junior writer to Europe Monitor on the world politics website and as an assistant editor for The World This Week. Her works have also been published in The Hindu, demonstrating her expertise in global affairs. Rishika has also received the District Level Women Empowerment Award in Haryana, India, in 2022.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos