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Ground Photo of Jebel Al Tair


The volcano erupted at 7 p.m. local time on 30 September 2007, throwing lava and ash hundreds of meters into the air. Subsequently, at least one stream of lava was seen flowing down into the sea. It was reported that 29 Yemeni soldiers (around 50 according to one report) were evacuated from the island shortly before the eruption, but 8 were unaccounted for. Several bodies were recovered from the water. It was reported that the western part of the island, the location of the Yemeni military base, had collapsed.

Yemeni authorities requested help from a nearby NATO naval force, and the nearest ship, a Canadian Navy vessel HMCS Toronto, was reported to be aiding the Yemeni coastguard. Other ships from NATO Standing NRF Maritime Group 1 assisted in the rescue and recovery effort, including the USS Bainbridge; the Bainbridge and Toronto each rescued one survivor. The Portuguese frigate NRP Álvares Cabral and the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen were first on the scene. Both survivors were rescued after over 20 hours in the water.

Several minor earthquakes ranging from 2 to 3.6 on the moment magnitude scale were reported near the island in the two weeks prior to the eruption. Earlier documented eruptions of this volcano include several reported in the 18th and 19th centuries, the most recent (before 2007) in 1883, and possibly one in 1332.

References: Text: Wikipedia. Photo: Wikipedia


Last Update: 2010-11-15