A powerful 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck northern Ethiopia on Friday, accompanied by a volcanic eruption in the region.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) confirmed the earthquake, which occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers.
The tremor hit approximately 55 kilometers northwest of Asbe Teferi, a city in the northeast Afar region.
No injuries have been reported, but the quake is part of a growing crisis in the area, where seismic activity has been increasing.
Local media reported that a nearby volcano erupted shortly after the quake, adding to the region’s turmoil.
Aden Bela, a local official, informed Ethiopian broadcaster EBC that the eruption began at 5:30 AM local time.
The volcano, situated near Segento, released lava and caused further disruption, though the crater had stopped emitting smoke.
Efforts to evacuate people and livestock from the area were immediately undertaken, though the exact number of displaced individuals remains unclear.
This eruption follows months of intense seismic activity, with over 67 earthquakes recorded by the US Geological Survey since late September.
The majority of these tremors have been concentrated in the Fantale region of the Great Rift Valley.