<P> Erta Ale means "smoking mountain" in the local Afar language and its southernmost pit is known locally as "the gateway to Hell". In 2009, it was mapped by a team from the BBC using three - dimensional laser techniques, in order for the mapping team to maintain a distance and avoid the lakes' searingly hot temperatures . </P> <P> Erta Ale is centered over the East African Rift system, which is a triple junction setting whose movements are resulting in the formation of a pull - apart basin or rift . The volcano comprises mainly Mafic material which has been brought up to the surface caused by unroofing of the mantle due to this rift formation . </P> <P> There was a major eruption on 25 September 2005 which killed 250 head of livestock and forced thousands of nearby residents to flee . There was further lava flow in August 2007, forcing the evacuation of hundreds and leaving two missing . An eruption on 4 November 2008 was reported by scientists at Addis Ababa University . Another eruption was reported in January 2017 . </P> <P> Not much is known about Erta Ale and the surrounding terrain is some of the most inhospitable on Earth making travel difficult and dangerous . The Afar region also experiences intermittent ethnic violence due to unification struggles by the native Afar people . On January 16, 2012, a group of European tourists was attacked at Erta Ale . Five tourists were killed, two taken as hostages and seven others wounded . The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) claimed responsibility for the attack and released the two kidnapped tourists in March 2012 . One travel guide recommends hiring "one or maybe two armed guards or police" as guides to visit Erta Ale . Commercial tour companies offer tours to Erta Ale which are generally accompanied by military escort . </P>

When was the last time the erta ale volcano erupted