Thousands of civilians in northeastern Ethiopia’s Afar region are being evacuated as a precautionary measure due to potentially hazardous volcanic activity from the long-dormant Mount Dofen volcano.
Steam eruptions were spotted on Thursday, sparking fears of a possible volcanic eruption that could put many lives at risk.
Volcanic mud flowing from Mount Dofen has already caused significant damage to infrastructure, including major roads, and dozens of properties have been severely affected.
The Afar Region Disaster Risk Management agency confirmed the evacuations, stating that residents are being relocated to safer areas within the region.
However, experts caution that the steam eruptions may not necessarily lead to a full-blown volcanic eruption.
Afar is one of Ethiopia’s most volatile regions, prone to drought, famine, flooding, and seismic activity.
The region has a history of volcanic eruptions and frequent earthquakes, making it a high-risk area for natural disasters.
