WHO reported that the intense seismic activity, which was initially reported on January 4 near the Fentale and Dofan volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift, has continued.

A series of earthquakes and volcanic activity continues to disrupt the southern Afar and northern Oromia regions of Ethiopia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday evening. The intense seismic activity, which was first reported on January 4 near the Fentale and Dofan volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift, has persisted.

WHO stated that the seismic activity affecting the southern Afar and northern Oromia regions near the Fentale and Dofan volcanoes continues. Last Friday, the government of Ethiopia announced that it was evacuating over 60,000 people from high-risk areas to safer locations. The evacuations are taking place amid ongoing tremors in hilly areas experiencing rockfalls, near a site emitting ash since January 2, and around a major dam.

Local media reports indicate that while Mount Dofen, which erupted following the seismic activity, has stopped emitting smoke, lava continues to flow from the crater.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reported that, as of January 11, at least two people have been injured as a result of the seismic activity. The mass evacuation efforts have led to the registration and partial evacuation of 51,456 people in Afar and 20,325 people in Oromia. Emergency shelters have been set up to accommodate the displaced populations.

The seismic events have caused significant damage to infrastructure, with 16 schools being severely damaged and 21 schools partially damaged, according to the health agency.