Forget Yellowstone or Etna! ‘Hidden’ volcanoes pose the greatest risk to the world,

A little–known Ethiopian volcano has erupted for the first time in at least 12,000 years – sparking fears that ‘hidden’ volcanoes are being missed. 

Professor Mike Cassidy, a volcanologist at the University of Birmingham, says the world’s overlooked volcanoes ‘pose the greatest threat’.

Known as ‘hidden’ volcanoes, they’re less famous than Yellowstone or Etna even among scientists – which means they’re not being monitored as much. 

Examples include El Chichón in Mexico, Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, Mount Merapi in Indonesia and La Soufrière on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent.

In a piece for The Conversation, Professor Cassidy warns that the ‘next global volcanic disaster’ could come from a hidden volcano. 

‘Often overlooked, these “hidden” volcanoes erupt more often than most people realise,’ he said. 

‘In regions like the Pacific, South America and Indonesia, an eruption from a volcano with no recorded history occurs every seven to ten years. 

‘Their effects can be unexpected and far–reaching.’ 

On Sunday (November 23), the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupted for the first time in recorded history (at least 12,000 years that we know of)

Volcanic ash from Hayli Gubbi, a long–dormant volcano, crossed the Red Sea through Oman and Yemen into India on Monday evening

The academic’s warnings follow the eruption of Hayli Gubbi in Ethiopia on Sunday for the first time in recorded history – going back an estimated 12,000 years. 

It sent ash plumes 8.5 miles into the sky, with volcanic material falling in Yemen and drifting into air space over northern India, causing flight disruptions. 

Thankfully, Ethiopian authorities reported no casualties from the eruption, though flights to and from the region may be affected. 

However, history shows that ‘hidden’ volcanoes like this have the potential to cause fatalities and mass destruction. 

Professor Cassidy points to El Chichón, a little–known and unmonitored yet active volcano responsible for ‘Mexico’s worst volcanic disaster in modern times’. 

In 1982, El Chichón erupted violently after lying dormant for centuries – possibly since the 14th century – killing more than 2,000 people and displacing 20,000. 

But it was only after the disaster that El Chichón was monitored – suggesting geologists are too ‘reactive’ rather than proactive when it comes to preparedness. 

Scientists monitor volcanoes by observing visual signs (such as new or enlarged areas), increases in seismic activity and any changes in gas emissions. 

El Chichón volcano in Mexico (pictured) erupted explosively in 1982 after lying dormant for centuries – killing more than 2,000 people

At the weekend, Hayli Gubbi in Ethiopia sent ash plumes 8.5 miles into the sky, with volcanic material failing in Yemen and drifting into air space over northern India

El Chichón has not erupted since 1982, but it is still considered an active volcano – meaning it has the potential to erupt again in the future. 

‘Three–quarters of large eruptions (like El Chichón and bigger) come from volcanoes that have been quiet for at least 100 years and, as a result, receive the least attention,’ said Professor Cassidy, who is behind a new charity called the Global Volcano Risk Alliance. 

Aside from the immediate effects of an eruption, volcanoes change the climate in both the short–term and long–term. 

In the case of El Chichón, sulphur from the eruption formed reflective particles in the upper atmosphere, cooling the northern hemisphere and shifting the African monsoon southwards, causing extreme drought. 

This contributed to the Ethiopian and East African famine of 1983–85, which claimed the lives of an estimated 1 million people and sparked campaigns like Live Aid. 

Now, particular concern lies with undermonitored volcanoes in regions such as Latin America, south–east Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

In these regions, millions of people live close to volcanoes that have little or no historical record – meaning it’s unknown or unsure when they last erupted.

Professor Cassidy concludes that ‘global investment in volcanology has not kept pace with the risks’ and people could now exposed to danger zones. 

Predicting volcanic eruptions is difficult, even with historical eruption data. Pictured, Kilauea volcano erupts in Hawaii as lava flows accelerate

Less than half of active volcanoes are monitored, and scientific research still disproportionately focuses on the well–known few.  

‘When volcanoes are monitored, when communities know how to respond, and when communication and coordination between scientists and authorities is effective, thousands of lives can be saved.’ 

His warnings echo advice from a University of Cambridge team who said even ‘minor’ volcanic eruptions could cause chaos.

The experts identified seven pinch points where clusters of relatively small but active volcanoes sit alongside vital infrastructure that, if paralysed, could have severe global consequences.