We all know that active volcanoes are dangerous, so it is doubly saddening to read that humans are making them more dangerous. News out of Ethiopia has 5 tourists visiting Erta'Ale - German, Hungarian and Austrian - along with an Ethiopian police officer were killed by unidentified gunmen (referred to in the news accounts as "Eritrean-trained terrorists", but it is unclear whether this description is being fed by Ethiopian officials - there is a long history of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea). A number of people were also taken captive by the gunmen after the group was ambushed at the crater rim. Erta'Ale is located in the remote Afar region along the Ethiopian/Eritrean border and includes such famous volcanoes as Erta'Ale, Dallol and Nabro. Thankfully, the students/researchers from the Volcanofiles who were headed to Erta'Ale as part of a scientific conference yesterday are safe and headed back to the highlands - all members of the scientific group are safe and accounted.
My sympathies to the families and friends who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
