Taftan volcano shows signs of activity again after 700,000 years

It (the volcano) needs to release itself in some way in the future, whether violently or more silently. Pablo Gonzáles, in an interview with Live Science

To be considered extinct, a volcano must remain inactive for long periods, without signs of magma leaking. In the case of Taftan, with its steep 3.9 km cone, scientists still record subtle but relevant changes.

In 2020, satellite images showed no anomalies, but reports of gaseous emissions on social media led to a new investigation. Data from an ESA (European Space Agency) satellite revealed that the ground has risen between 490 and 630 meters below the surface, while the magma reservoir remains much deeper, at around 3.5 km.

Although the risk of an eruption is not immediate, researchers reinforce the importance of rigorous monitoring of Taftan. Gonzáles highlights:

This study is not intended to cause panic among the population. It is a warning for authorities in the Iranian region to allocate resources to analyze this. Pablo Gonzáles, researcher