Sun, 20 Oct 2024, 07:49 | BY: T
Ground deformation of the area around Fantale volcano (image: NERC COMET @NERC_COMET / X.com)Since early September 2024, a series of earthquakes has been shaking the area between Fantale and Dofen volcano in the Awash area of central Ethiopia, about 150 km northeast from the capital Addis. Several quakes have reached magnitudes of up to almost 5 and destroyed many houses.
Ground cracks have opened up, and some of them began to erupt hot water, some in the form of small geysers and steam explosions. Satellite data show that the ground has risen by up to 30 cm over a length of around 10 km in the same area.
This suggests that magma is currently intruding (or has intruded recently) underground. It might lead to a new eruption in the near future, or it might calm down and remain as an intrusion. This is something that cannot be predicted at this point, although the most recent information seems to suggest that the events have started to slow down.
Unfortunately, there is no (publicly accessible) earthquake network covering the area, so only the largest quakes (above magnitude 4.5 approx.) can be picked up by international seismic agencies. However, local reports indicate that a much larger number of smaller quakes have been occurring.
Social media hint at Fentale volcano as the main suspect although the epicenter of quakes are closer to the neighboring Dofen volcano. Fantale is a prominent stratovolcano with a caldera that has been inactive for centuries while Dofen is a system of fissures and small cones with frequent eruptions in the (geologically recent) past, although none has been dated.
Sentinel-1 data show a magma intrusion occurred north of Fentale volcano, Ethiopia, on around 27 September, causing many felt M4+ earthquakes. Today’s acqcuisition shows deformation is now decreasing. Please follow Ethiopian experts at IGSSA for more information. pic.twitter.com/wOZv3RFCnx— NERC COMET (@NERC_COMET) October 18, 2024
In any case, all available data strongly indicate that a magma intrusion has been taking place northeast of Fantale volcano. After all, this is a typical event in the Rift Valley, which owes is existence to the African Continental plate slowly being pulled apart by tectonic forces, resulting in frequent fissure eruptions that make up the valley floor. Whether of not the current episode of unrest will lead to an eruption remains to be seen.
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