Scientists fear volcano that was ‘extinct' for 700,000 years has woken up as gas pressure builds
Researchers say that the Taftan volcano's summit has risen by 3.5 inches in a year
www.the-independent.comHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting:
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Taftan (Mount Taftan) in southeastern Iran has shown signs of renewed activity after a long dormancy, with satellite data indicating ground uplift (roughly around 9 cm in some reports) between mid-2023 and mid-2024, which suggests magma movement beneath the summit but does not confirm an imminent eruption. These findings have been covered by multiple outlets since late 2024 and into 2025, highlighting that while unrest is clearly detectable, eruption is not guaranteed and ongoing monitoring is essential.[3][4]
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Reports note gas emissions and fumarolic activity accompanying the uplift, with observations of sulfurous smells and plumes reported in the region, reinforcing concerns about potential future activity though not a definite eruption timeline. Satellite-based analyses (e.g., InSAR) have been central to detecting the deformation signals used to assess the volcano’s state.[1][2][4][3]
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Public interest and coverage intensified around late 2024 to 2025, and several outlets have framed Taftan as potentially reawakening after hundreds of thousands of years of dormancy, while stressing that continuous monitoring is needed to interpret any progression toward an eruption. Some sources also contextualize the event within broader discussions of dormant volcanoes reactivating and the uncertainties involved in predicting eruptions from deformation alone.[2][4][5][1][3]
Illustrative note:
- If you want a quick snapshot, think of Taftan as a sleeping giant showing subtle but measurable ground swelling and gas signs, which could precede activity but doesn’t guarantee an eruption anytime soon.
Would you like a concise, sourced timeline of the key observations and what scientists concluded at each stage, or a map-style briefing with the latest monitoring recommendations for nearby communities? I can assemble a compact, cited brief.