Ethiopian Volcanic Crisis; Large Magma Intrusion Underway, All You Need to Know

Right now, 10,000 people are at risk of a potential major volcanic eruption. This is due to a massive 21 kilometer or 13 mile long dike of magma which is currently intruding underneath central Ethiopia. Fresh hot springs and apparent geysers have appeared where they previously did not exist, large cracks have appeared in the ground, the local railroad was bent, and several magnitude 4 range earthquakes occurred. This video discusses the ongoing intrusion, similar intrusions which have occurred around the Fentale volcano in Ethiopia, and the general East African Rift through the analysis and opinions of a volcanologist. Already, 700 people have been evacuated.

Note: This video's thumbnail image shows what a basaltic fissure eruption (were one to occur since no eruption has occurred yet) might look like. More specifically, the image is of a 2018 eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano.

I could very well be wrong about this magmatic intrusion, but I deemed the risk of causing an eruption to be high enough that it warranted me making this video.

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Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google & Data Providers

Various licenses used in sections of this video (not the entire video, this video as a whole does not completely fall under one of these licenses) and/or in this video's thumbnail image (and this list does not include every license used in this video and/or thumbnail image):

Sources/Citations:
[2] U.S. Geological Survey
[3] USGS Denver Library Photographic Collection

0:00 A Major Problem
0:12 Magma Intrusion
1:03 Uplift & Magma Dike
1:25 Opinion & Analysis
2:15 East African Rift
3:44 Magma Composition

[GeologyHub]

This is a potentially concerning situation. While in all likelihood no eruption will occur, the chance of an eruption still occurring exists. I ask that this video be shared to help spread the word of this magma intrusion and the potential hazards it might bring. Eruptions involving rhyolite magma are incredibly dangerous. The reason why no upload occurred yesterday was because I was contacting the relevant authorities to warn them. While I might be misinterpreting a response I received due to a language barrier, at least one authority figure in Ethiopia which monitors the volcano seemingly approved this video when I sent them my full script for fact checking purposes.

[davada]

Reaching out to Embassies is a fantastic use of your platform, going well above what I'd expect from a youtuber.

[isaacfetllwork]

I'm an Ethiopian. Three weeks ago, there were two earthquakes whose waves were felt by many people in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. As for the government, they are busy fighting with all of its own citizens.

[Razgriz__]

I have to say it's impressive the amount of information gathering you do in order to pick up on and warn about this in an underdeveloped and low profile area of the world. Thanks for the work that you do.

[Cider]

Hopefully the local authority will monitor the system and take the appropriate actions. You did your part, well done for speaking up.

[Joe-egq]

When you said 15km i kinda thought it was a bit much, until you said it may not be a basic basalt intrusion. Thanks for caring so deeply about volcanology and Geology. I hope the gov there heeds your warning.

[StickyBeeSyrup]

I’m a Geology masters student working on chronology of Tat Ale lava flows in the Afar Depression. I’ll share this with my colleagues and supervisors as they’re some of the foremost Geoscientist working on volcanism in Ethiopia.

[atlasorganics]

I'm here in Ethiopia on vacation, and I share your concern. A big eruption is eminent

[InsidiousSwede]

"I cannot risk the chance that I am right"

Thanks for putting out a video on this.

[zacharybenson]

Ethiopia is a beautiful area with a lot of truly heartbreaking, depressing conflicts displacing many families of many cultures. Now this? I truly hope that people stay safe.

[rockweiler]

My world is so much richer for your generosity and dedication.

[francoischantal]

Top notch channel. You deserve to make a difference.

[meredythmackinnon-love]

Thank you so much for bringing this situation to light and warning people of the danger. I hope the people in Ethiopia listen & the area evacuated. You are a good person.

[isaacbunsen]

Wracking my brain for ideal places to share this

[SweetSunrising]

E. African Rift Zone, we’re literally watching Gondwana still breaking apart - crazy geysers popping off where they never existed😳 I’m hoping all your subscribers over in Ethiopia are finding your warning in time. Thank you so much for covering this for the residents in the area & reaching out to help everyone under threat where they’re not getting the warnings or info. I hope your contact with the gov’t & agencies there moves forward. You are awesome!

[Bereket]

Thank you for notifying us, Ethiopians !!

[leeanderson]

One thing I have learned--Geological movements can happen MUCH faster and MORE violently than mainstream analysts are fond of predicting.

[yzettasmith]

Warning the officials is a step beyond. Kudos to you!

[IbrahimAli-jbml]

Well, this explains why there have been several minor earthquakes in the capital of Ethiopia in the past couple of weeks. Thank you for the information.

[vixtex]

Thank you for this update. I hope folks will get enough warning to evacuate 🌋