An international team led by SVE, visited Erta Ale during 22-23 January. They observed no significant changes at the volcano since last observed in November 2004. Degassing continued from three of the four coalescent hornitos in the SW part of South Crater, but decreased slightly in comparison with observations made in December 2004. One hornito contained glowing molten lava. Degassing from North Crater also slightly decreased. Near the NW wall of the crater two small red glowing areas were visible at the summit of two hornitos in the crater.

Geological Summary. The Erta Ale basaltic shield volcano in Ethiopia has a 50-km-wide edifice that rises more than 600 m from below sea level in the Danakil depression. The volcano includes a 0.7 x 1.6 km summit crater hosting steep-sided pit craters. Another larger 1.8 x 3.1 km wide depression elongated parallel to the trend of the Erta Ale range is located SE of the summit and is bounded by curvilinear fault scarps on the SE side. Basaltic lava flows from these fissures have poured into the caldera and locally overflowed its rim. The summit caldera usually also holds at least one long-term lava lake that has been active since at least 1967, and possibly since 1906. Recent fissure eruptions have occurred on the N flank.

Source: European Volcanological Society (SVE)