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Earthquake activity in Eastern Ethiopia. September 2005
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- Several earthquakes have been located in Eastern part of Ethiopia since September 20th, 2005.
So far, more than 120 events are reported. These locations have either been located by EMSC or reported by the Yemenite network. EMSC locations have been performed by merging the Yemenite data with data from other networks.
- Information provided by the Geophysical Observatory of Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)
- This activity is magmato-tectonic activity with major tectonic deformation. The center of the deformation is a volcanic vent where considerable amount of felsic ash (10-15 cm thick) erupted. The smell of the sulfur is so terrible and you can hear a boiling noise beneath the center of the vent. You can also see smokes here and there. The area was aseismic in recent times and now this is another witness that the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea oceanic rifts are infact shaking hands in Afar. Map of locations (from USGS).
- Information from the U.S. ambassy in Addis-Ababa (published in All American Patriots)
- Mount Arteala, a long-dormant volcano in the Afar Region’s Teru Woreda, erupted on September 26, triggered by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5. A subsequent tremor in early October led to further volcanic activity, damaging roads and covering large areas of pasture with lava and volcanic ash. Ethiopia’s Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission reported that the eruption displaced thousands of people from Dadaho and Boyana kebeles in Teru Woreda.
- Although there were no human casualties, an estimated 1,000 livestock, including sheep, goats, and camels were killed, with extensive damage to roads and water points. The exact number of people affected remains unconfirmed, but officials estimate that 6,500 have been displaced and up to 50,000 people may need to evacuate the area due to the continuing volcanic activity.
Atalay Ayele (PhD.Seismologist)
e-mail: or
Photos of the rupture area
As shown on the Number of events per day, the seismic activity has now decreased. This clustering of seismic activity in time is not unusual.
Disclaimer : the location accuracy may not be homogenous for all events.
- Information provided by the Geophysical Observatory of Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)