Ethiopia’s Afar Region Reports Volcanic Eruptions

ADDIS ABABA, Xinhua: The Afar regional government of Ethiopia has announced the incidence of volcanic eruptions in four locations of the regional state.

The less powerful volcanic eruptions have drawn the attention of tourists, especially foreign visitors at tourist sites, the Afar Regional Tourism Bureau said in a statement on Wednesday.

The eruptions have been occurring in four different locations within a 15-km radius of the main crater Erta Ale, one of the region’s most geologically active zones, since Tuesday, the statement said, quoting Abdu Ahmed, director of tourism resources promotion and market development at the bureau.

No tourists or local residents were hurt in the eruptions, the director said, adding that the tourists were watching the relatively gentle eruptions and smoke rising from the erupting volcanoes.

Frequent earthquakes of varying magnitudes have struck the Awash Fentale mountain area since late September last year. The earthquakes sparked concern among the public as experts and authorities called for calm and vigilance.

In January this year, the Ethiopian government announced that more than 58,000 citizens were relocated from Afar and Oromia regions to temporary shelters due to the threat of earthquakes in the areas.

The majority of the earthquakes in the area were of moderate intensity, with a few reaching magnitudes of 5 or higher. Some of the tremors were felt as far as the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, about 150 km to the west, and surrounding areas.