Mount Semeru in Indonesia, Hayli Gubbi in Ethiopia: Is the world seeing more volcanic eruptions? Explained

Recent major volcanic eruptions in Indonesia and Ethiopia have sparked questions about increasing activity. However, experts state there’s no evidence of a global rise, attributing perceived increases to better monitoring and reporting. Historical data shows fluctuations, with periods of conflict disrupting documentation. Around 1,350 potentially active volcanoes exist globally, many along the Pacific’s Ring of Fire. Two major volcanic eruptions have occurred within days of each other—one in Indonesia and another in Ethiopia. Indonesia’s Mount Semeru burst into activity on November 22, followed a day later by Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi, erupting for the first time in nearly 12,000 years. A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it drifts over the Red Sea.