Scientists fears that volcano 'Taftan' could erupt after 700,000 years

According to a recent geological study, scientists fear that the "Taftan" volcano, located near the Iran-Pakistan border and considered extinct for over 700,000 years, could erupt again.

The study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that the sleeping volcano is showing signs of renewed activity, with the volcanic summit rising by 3.5 inches between July 2023 and May 2024, indicating a significant build-up of gas pressure beneath its surface.

Researchers, including senior volcanologist Pablo Gonzalez, suggest this pressure will eventually need to be released, though they reassure that there is no risk of an imminent eruption.

Pablo said, “The gas pressure building up in the volcano will have to release somehow in the future, either violently or more quietly.”

Pablo further explained that “this study doesn’t aim to produce panic in people. It’s a wake-up call to the authorities in the region in Iran to designate some resources to look at this.”

Locals in the region also detected volcanic activity, observing gaseous emissions and a distinct smell from the volcano as early as 2023, detectable up to 30 miles from the summit.

Taftan is a stratovolcano in southeastern Iran in the mountain range formed by the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates.

According to geological experts, the volcano has active hot springs and sulfur vents but has not erupted in recent years.

The volcanologists report that, despite the challenges of monitoring its remote location, scientists are using satellite images and ongoing research to track the 12,927 ft-high volcano, urging authorities to allocate resources for its close observation.

The overall scientific findings indicate that the cause of the volcano’s growth spurt is likely a consequence of differences in the hydrothermal plumbing beneath the volcano, leading to gas build-up or magma shifts beneath the vent.

However, scientists are continually monitoring the volcano, and the research remains ongoing, partnering with other experts, reports The Independent.