Dubbi Volcano

Updated: Apr 25, 2025 04:00 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Eritrea, 13.58°N / 41.81°E

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Summit height: 1625 m / 5,331 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 10 Mar 2022

Dubbi volcano in Eritrea is a large volcanic massif rising 1625 m above the the western shore of the Red Sea. It is located in the Afar triangle south of the crystalline basement rocks in the Danakil Alps east of the Danakil depression and east of the Erta Ale range.
The two most-recent eruptive centers are fissure systems that extend NW-SE and NNE-SSW. The former produced lava flows that reached the Red Sea in 1400 AD. The second created 19 small craters at the summit in 1861. Ash fell more than 300 km from the volcano. Two villages were destroyed and more than 100 persons were killed during Africa's largest eruption in historical time. Lava flows from the 1861 eruption traveled as far as 22 km and reached the coast.

An eruption on 12 June 2011 from neighboring Nabro was originally believed to be from Dubbi.

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Dubbi volcano eruptions: 1861, 1400
uncertain eruptions in 1900 and 1863

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Background

There are about 20 cinder cones at the summit and large basalt lava flows to the north and NE of the volcano, forming the Edd lav a field, which covers 2700 sq km and stretches to the coast of the Red Sea.
Dubbi volcano is part of a volcanic alignment that extends SW from the Red Sea spreading axis to the southern tip of the Tat Ali axial volcanic range.
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Sources:
- Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Significant volcanic eruptions: Dubbi volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Dubbi has had at least 2 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations. Additionally, there are 2 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Dubbi volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Dubbi volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Dubbi can be found on the news page of Dubbi volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
?? 1900 ?	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1863	Uncertain Eruption	2
1861 May 8 - Oct	Historical obs./docs.	3?
1861 May 7 (eruption 1861 May 8 - Oct)	Historical obs./docs.	3	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
1400 AD Jul 15 ±45 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2?

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

Eruptions of Dubbi volcano

1861 explosive eruption
The 1861 eruption from Dubbi volcano took place from a new fissure system NNE-SSW and produced 19 craters at the summit. The eruption was partly explosive, unusual for the Afar region, and produced a large ash column and caused ash fall more than 300 km from the volcano. 2 villages were destroyed and more than 100 persons were killed during what is probably Africa's largest eruption in historical time. Lava flows from the 1861 eruption flowed as far as 22 km and reached the coast.
A description of the 1861 eruption was provided by Captain R. L. Playfair, the British Resident at Aden:
"On the night of the 7th or the morning of the 8th of May, the people of Edd were awakened by the shock of an earthquake followed by others which continued with little intermission for about an hour. At sunrise, a quantity of fine white dust fell over the village. . . . About noon, the character of this dust . . .resembled red earth. Shortly afterwards, it increased to such an extent that the air was perfectly darkened and we had to light lamps in our houses. It was darker than the darkest night, and the whole place was covered with dust, nearly knee-deep. At night [on May 9], we saw fire and dense smoke issuing from a mountain called Djebel Dubbeh."

1400 AD eruption
In 1400 AD, an eruption produced lava flows that reached the Red Sea. The vents of the eruption were along a NW-SE fissure system still visible in the terrain.

Dubbi Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Dubbi volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Dubbi occurred in 1861.

+How often does Dubbi volcano erupt?

Since 1400 AD, Dubbi volcano has had at least 2 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 313 years.

+When was the largest eruption of Dubbi volcano?

The largest eruption of Dubbi volcano in historic times occurred in 1861. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Dubbi Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).