An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale shook northern Ethiopia on Friday January 3, where a volcano erupted. No injuries have yet been reported.
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The earthquake occurred on Friday evening around 8 p.m. local time, about fifty kilometers from the town of Asbe Teferi, between the regions of Afar and Oromia. Since September, no less than 67 earthquakes and tremors have been recorded in this area of east-centralEthiopia. This is particularly the case in the Fentale region which is part of the main Ethiopian Rift Valley, a vast fracture zone of the earth’s crust where geological phenomena are particularly intense.
For months, the local population has been observing tremors of ” stronger and stronger » some of which were even felt as far as the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, although located 230 km away.
Friday evening, concern increased with the eruption of Mount Dofan. In images shot near this volcano, we can see a column of pressurized gas and debris rising above the trees. Deep fractures were also observed on the ground. So many elements which raise fears of a more significant eruption.
The Ethiopian authorities have already been working on an evacuation plan for this area for several weeks. An official from the Commission for Risk and Disaster Management in the Afar region explained to us that five shelters have been opened to accommodate the displaced people, who are increasing in number. By telephone, he estimated that more than 60,000 people could be forced to flee the area if volcanic activity further intensifies.
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