Volcanoes of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti

Updated: Oct 25, 2025 13:24 GMT - refresh

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti

In historic times, at least 13 volcanoes have been active in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, including Nabro, Dallol, and Manda Hararo volcanoes. A total of 21 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1250 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti since 1800.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths	Damage
1967 or before - ongoing	Erta Ale	0	Danakil depression, Ethiopia
2011 Jun 13 - 2012 Jun 3 ?	Nabro Summit crater and NW flank	4	Eritrea
2011 Jan 4 ±3 d.	Dallol Dallol crater	0	Danakil desert, Ethiopia
2009 Jun 28 - Jul 1 ?	Manda Hararo	2?	Danakil depression, Ethiopia
2008 Nov 3 - Dec 16 ±15 d.	Dalafilla W and NW of Dalaffilla	3?	Erta Ale range (Danakil
2007 Aug 12 - Aug 14 ?	Manda Hararo	2	Danakil depression, Ethiopia
2005 Sep 26 - Sep 29	Dabbahu NE flank (Da'Ure)	3?	Ethiopia
1978 Nov 7 - Nov 14	Ardoukôba	1	Djibouti
1960 Jan 16 ±15 d.	Erta Ale	0	Danakil depression, Ethiopia
1940	Erta Ale	0	Danakil depression, Ethiopia
1928 Dec 31 ±365 d.	Manda-Inakir Kammourta	2?	Ethiopia/Djibouti
1926	Dallol	1	Danakil desert, Ethiopia
1915	Alayta	2	Ethiopia
1907 Jun - Aug 4 or later	Alayta SE flank	2	Ethiopia
1907 Aug 4 (eruption 1907 Jun - Aug 4 or later)	Alayta	2	Ethiopia	1-50 (*)		Info
1907 Aug 4: CAVW reports fatalities from Afdera, but eruption now thought to be from Alayta. Number of fatalities uncertain. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1906 May	Erta Ale	0	Danakil depression, Ethiopia
1900 ?	Tullu Moje Wonji Fault Belt, SE of Lake Koka	1	Ethiopia
1861 May 8 - Oct	Dubbi	3?	Eritrea (Africa)
1861 May 7 (eruption 1861 May 8 - Oct)	Dubbi	3	Eritrea (Africa)	106	heavy	Info
1861 May 7: Fatalities occurred during initial explosive phase of eruption. Two villages were destroyed and large herds of cattle were killed. The agent of fatalities is not clear. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1820 ?	Fantale Caldera floor and SW flank	?	Ethiopia (Africa)
1820 ±10 y.	Kone East margin of Gariboldi caldera	1	Ethiopia

(*) Estimated numbers

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti?

The last volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti was from Nabro volcano during 2011 - 2012.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1250 AD from Fantale volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti erupt?

Since 1250 AD, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti has seen at least 21 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 36.9 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti?

Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti is volcanically very active: Since 1900, at least 9 volcanoes in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti have been active.Since 1900, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti has had 15 volcanic eruptions from 9 individual volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions have been recorded erupted during 67 years out of 126 as of now. This means, at least one volcano in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti has been in eruption in one in 1.9 years on average. The last volcano to erupt in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti was Nabro volcano. Its was active from 2011 until 2012 and ended 13 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti?

The largest eruption in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti in historic times was from Nabro volcano. It occurred during 2011 - 2012. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Tours to Ethiopia's volcanoes

Danakil desert (Ethiopia)

Desert, salt and volcanoes

14-day expedition to Erta Ale volcano and Dallol hydrothermal field (Danakil desert, Ethiopia)

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14 days / 13 nights - Moderate
Price $ 4390 €£¥

20 Nov - 3 Dec 2025

22 Jan - 4 Feb 2026

Danakil desert (Ethiopia)

Erta Ale Volcano Special

8-day expedition to Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia

more info

8 days - Moderate
Price $ 3190 €£¥

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20 Nov - 3 Dec 2025: Desert, salt and volcanoes - Danakil desert (Ethiopia)

2-10 May 2026: From Stromboli to Etna - Sicily and Eolian Islands (Italy)

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Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): dramatic changes to both pit craters

The timelapse animation of Erta Ale comparing the situation before (6 July) and after (26 July) the strong explosion (image: Sentinel-2)

The Sentinel-2 acquisition from 26 July provided valuable insights into the northern and southern pit craters following the strong explosive eruption in mid-July. Read all

Fri, 18 Jul 2025, 07:30

Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): dramatic changes to caldera and new lava flow

The timelapse combining Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery shows an impressive morphology changes in the northern pit crater and 10 km long lava flow (image: European Space Agency)

Following the latest Sentinel-1 acquisition, which carries a synthetic aperture radar onboard, impressive insights have been gained into the caldera that formed during the recent strong explosive eruption in Erta Ale's northern pit crater. ... Read all