Addis Ababa, November 23, 2025 (FMC) — Mount Erta Ale, one of Ethiopia’s most active volcanoes, erupted vigorously today in the lowlands of Dallol (Danakil Depression) in the Afar Region, sending thick plumes of ash and smoke high into the sky.
Eyewitnesses said the blast, which occurred around 10:00 a.m. today, was unusually strong in both size and sound, describing it as one of the most powerful eruptions witnessed in recent years.
The explosion triggered a massive ash column that drifted over nearby communities, heightening concern among local residents.
Prof. Atalay Ayele, Head of the Seismology Department at the Institute of Geophysics, Space Science and Astronomy at Addis Ababa University, explained that the eruption was caused by the movement of active lava.
He noted that the eruption occurred roughly 10 kilometers south of Erta Ale, and that geophysics researchers have been dispatched to study the situation.
He added that the Danakil Depression, part of the Great East African Rift Valley, is a region of active volcanic activity, and that eruptions in the area are typically caused by the erosion and movement of active rocks.
Lava flows form periodically, which can trigger eruptions ranging from low to high intensity. Such eruptions may hurl rocks and stones into the air and generate heavy smoke and ash. Prof. Atalay urged local residents to take necessary precautions.
Authorities have not yet issued details on potential impacts or safety advisories, although residents reported visible ash fall in surrounding areas.
Mount Erta Ale, located within the Danakil Depression, is known as one of the world’s most persistently active volcanoes and has recorded multiple eruptions over the past decades. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely.