The Ethiopian authorities started the evacuation of residents from earthquake-hit areas of the country's northeastern Afar region, the Ethiopian Government Communication Service said in a statement on Saturday.
"The government is working to evacuate residents from the epicenter of the earthquake," the statement read.
The government deployed emergency workers from various fields in 12 kebeles (the lowest administrative unit) in the Ethiopian northeastern Afar region to assess the extent of the damage caused by the earthquakes, with 80,000 citizens who live in these kebeles to be evacuated, the communication service noted.
"It is known that earthquakes of various magnitudes occur frequently in the bordering areas of the Afar, Oromia and Amara regions. The events are increasing in magnitude and frequency over time. This week in particular, data shows that earthquakes of up to 5.8 on the Richter scale have occurred," the statement added.
Increased seismic activity in the region raises concerns that the local Fentale and Dofan volcanos could erupt.
"Recently, compressed water and steam occurred on the Dofan volcano in the Awash Fentale district of the Afar region," the Ethiopian Geological Institute said on social media on Friday, attaching a video.