“Zombie” volcano in Iran awakens after 710,000 years of dormancy

A volcano in southeastern Iran, long considered extinct, is showing signs of life for the first time in 710,000 years. Scientists monitoring Mount Taftan have detected alarming geological activity that may signal a reclassification of the volcano from extinct to dormant — and a need for urgent reassessment of regional volcanic hazards.

According to a new study published this month, researchers observed a summit uplift of 3.5 inches between 2023 and 2024, a deformation that has yet to subside. This swelling could be caused by hot fluids and gases accumulating beneath the summit, or magma intruding roughly three miles below the surface, pressurizing the hydrothermal system above, Daily Mail reports.

“Our findings reveal that Taftan is more active than previously recognized,” said study co-author and volcanologist Pablo González in an interview with Live Science. “This study doesn't aim to produce panic in the people. It's a wake-up call to the authorities in the region in Iran to designate some resources to look at this.”

Local reports in 2024 also noted increased volcanic activity, including smoke and ash emissions from the crater. Though traditionally classified as extinct — meaning it hasn’t erupted since the Holocene epoch began 11,700 years ago — González now describes the volcano as dormant, noting pressure is quietly building beneath the surface.

Using a new satellite imaging technique called the "common-mode filter," the research team was able to eliminate atmospheric interference and detect precise ground movements. Analysis revealed shallow deformation, just 1,540 to 2,070 feet below the summit, with accompanying vent activity releasing gases such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and carbon dioxide. Two major gas emissions occurred on May 16 and 28, 2024.

The study concluded that “the absence of post-unrest reversed subsidence signals highlights the potential for persistent pressurization beneath the summit,” suggesting Taftan remains a potential threat.

With nearby cities like Khash, Zahedan, and the Pakistani town of Taftan in proximity, any eruption could bring widespread hazards — from toxic gas emissions and ashfall to lava flows and infrastructure destruction. The researchers urge enhanced monitoring and updated hazard evaluations for the Makran volcanic arc.

By Vafa Guliyeva