An overflow of the lava lake of Erta Ale (Feb 2010, photo: R. Ringhofer)

As visitors report, the lava level of Erta Ale has risen to within 10 meters beneath the rim of the south crater and is flooding its terrace frequently.

The new fissure eruption in the Danakil near Erta Ale earlier this month, on 14-15 August, is reported to have killed five people, hundreds of camels and and drove more than 2 000 people from their homes. According to Ethiopian news sources, the "eruption also opened a 10km crack in the ground and spewed lava 300m in the air."
It is likely this is in fact not an eruption related to Erta Ale volcano. A more likely candidate could benearby Dabbahu volcano, a new fissure which had its first historic eruption in late Sept (26) - early Oct 2005. It could also be even a new volcano born from a new fissure: a new episode in the dramatic chapter of Earth's History called the "Splitting apart of East Africa". The occurrence of fissures and fissure eruptions in the area is not surprising, given the very geologic nature of the Afar triangle. Here, the two segments of the African plate and the adjacient Arabian plate are being pulled apart from each other, as East AFrica is slowly moving away fr...

The Ethiopian News Agency report a possible new flank eruption from Erta Ale volcano in the Danakil desert. Ethiopian News Agency. According to the agency, two people are reported missing and several hundreds of villagers were forced to flee from their area by a lava flow.
 
 

Volcanic activity at Erta Ale reported previously actually occurred at Dabbahu:
 
A team of scientists visited the Da'Ure locality immediately adjacent to the NE flank of the Quaternary Dabbahu (or Boina) felsic complex on 4 and 5 October after receiving reports of volcanic activity there on 26 September.
People in the area noted that on 26 September at about 1300 a very strong earthquake shook the area, and was followed by a dark column of "smoke" that rose high into the atmosphere and spread out to form a cloud, which darkened the area for 3 days and 3 nights. The scientists determined that a minor explosive eruption occurred from two semi-circular vents, producing ashfall that was ~5 cm thick near the vent. ash deposits extended more than 500 m from the vent. Boulders emitted during the eruption were as large as 3 m and were deposited as far as 20 meters away. The scientists noted intense degassing from the vents, the scent of sulfur dioxide, and the sound of boiling water i...

One week after the start of the eruption of Erta Ale, some details emerge as news reports come in: the crater of the large shield volcano has rapidly filled with fresh lava and possibly overflowed, destroying farmland and killing much livestock. strong strombolian or hawaiian activity is producing thick clouds of ash that shower over the volcano's surroundings.
 
A group of scientists assessed the visible changes at Erta Ale on 26 September after activity began around 24 September. In comparison to observations made in November 2004, they found that the southern main crater/pit had widened significantly, with portions of the previous crater walls having collapsed into the lava lake. A new cone-shaped construct had grown within the southern main crater where there had been a platform. A lava lake occupied the entire width of the inner crater/pit. In the northern crater/pit, there was a solidified lava bulge and abundant "smoking" along the crater walls. No incandescent lava was ...

Erta Ale volcano in northern Afar, Ethiopia, well-known for its long-lived active lava lake that had occupied its crater up until 2004, has erupted yesterday according to unconfirmed reports from local authorities. The eruption followed a series of earthquakes of up to 5.5. magnitude Richter scale that occurred in the area the day before.