Iran's Taftan volcano, dormant for 710,000 years, shows first signs of reawakening
By isabelle // 2025-10-20
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  • A long-dormant volcano in Iran is showing new signs of activity.
  • Satellite data reveals the ground near its summit is swelling from internal pressure.
  • The volcano is now considered dormant, not extinct, requiring updated risk assessments.
  • Local reports confirm increased gas emissions and sulfur smells from the peak.
  • Experts urge authorities to establish monitoring for this newly recognized hazard.
A volcano in Iran believed to have been extinct for more than 700,000 years is showing the first subtle but significant signs of reawakening, challenging long-held assumptions about its slumber and serving as a reminder of nature’s unpredictable power. The Taftan volcano in southeastern Iran, a massive stratovolcano standing over 13,000 feet tall, has remained quiet throughout recorded human history, but new scientific observations reveal a ground uplift near its summit, suggesting pressure is building from deep within. This discovery, detailed in a recent study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, acts as a wake-up call for authorities and underscores the perpetual need for vigilance in the face of planetary forces.

An awakening giant

For ten months between July 2023 and May 2024, the ground near Taftan’s summit rose by 3.5 inches. This swelling has not receded, pointing to a sustained buildup of gas pressure below the surface. The research team, using satellite imagery from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 mission, detected this "spontaneous" and "triggerless" deformation, meaning no external events like earthquakes or heavy rainfall were to blame. The uplift indicates that Taftan, long classified as extinct, is more accurately described as dormant. "It has to release somehow in the future, either violently or more quietly," study senior author Pablo González, a volcanologist at the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology, told Live Science. The volcano’s remote location means it lacks the sophisticated GPS monitoring systems common on more active volcanoes, making satellite data crucial. The team’s analysis pinpointed the source of this pressure buildup to a surprisingly shallow depth of between 1,509 and 2,067 feet below the surface. This is far shallower than the volcano’s main magma reservoir, which sits more than two miles down. The precise cause remains unknown, but scientists have two leading theories. The uplift could be driven by a change in the volcano’s hydrothermal plumbing, trapping hot gases, or by a small, deep magmatic intrusion that is pressurizing the entire system above it. Adding to the concern are local reports from 2024 of increased volcanic activity. Residents reported visible smoke and strong sulfurous emissions from the volcano, with the smell reaching the city of Khash, located 31 miles away. The study noted that vents at the summit were releasing gases, including sulfur dioxide, at an average rate of 20 tons per day. Two larger gas release events in May 2024 signaled temporary spikes in underground pressure, providing further evidence that this is not a static system.

Experts are keeping a close eye on the volcano

The researchers were unequivocal in their conclusion. "Our findings reveal that Taftan is more active than previously recognized," the study authors wrote. They emphasized that this new activity highlights "the urgent need for a revision of the current volcano risk" for the entire Makran subduction volcanic arc, a chain of volcanoes on the Iran-Pakistan border. This means establishing proper monitoring networks, updating hazard maps, and preparing risk mitigation plans for a volcano once thought to pose no threat. González was quick to reassure the public that the findings are not a cause for panic. "This study doesn't aim to produce panic in the people," he said. Instead, he described it as "a wake-up call to the authorities in the region in Iran to designate some resources to look at this." The situation mirrors the lessons from volcanoes worldwide, where preparedness and monitoring are the only defenses against catastrophic loss of life. The recent activity at Mount Etna, which forced tourists to evacuate, reinforces the timeless truth that respecting nature’s power is a fundamental requirement for human safety.

What could happen if the volcano erupts?

The potential hazards of a future eruption are significant. Nearby cities like Zahedan, home to more than 500,000 people, and towns across the border in Pakistan could face ashfall, disrupting air travel, damaging crops, and causing respiratory issues. While an explosive eruption is not considered imminent, the study authors caution that the area is hazardous. The reclassification of Taftan from extinct to dormant is a powerful reminder that the natural world operates on a timescale far beyond human memory. While there is no immediate danger, the building pressure beneath this ancient peak underscores a simple, non-negotiable reality: the Earth is alive, and its quietest corners can sometimes hold the most surprising secrets. The need for respect, preparedness, and truth in scientific observation has never been more clear. Sources for this article include: LiveScience.com IFLScience.com DailyMail.co.uk
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