Wednesday, August 22, 2007
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MEKELE, Ethiopia (Reuters) - A volcano that erupted earlier this month in remote northern Ethiopia killed five people and drove more than 2,000 from their homes, authorities said in an official report on its impact on Tuesday.
The volcano, which rocked the arid Afar region bordering Eritrea and Djibouti for three days from August 12, also killed about 1,370 camels and goats, the State Disaster Prevention and Food Security bureau said in an assessment of the damage.
The eruption also opened a 10-km (6-mile) long crack in the ground and spewed lava some 300 metres (1,000 feet) in the air, scientists said this week.
The Afar region is dotted with ancient salt mines and is for the most part inhabited by nomadic herders.
Source: Reuters, Aug 22, 2007