Ethiopian authorities say they are evacuating thousands of civilians who live near potentially dangerous volcanic activity in a remote part of the country’s north-east.

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck northern Ethiopia Friday, where a volcano erupted after months of increased seismic activity, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and local media said.

A volcano in northeastern Ethiopia was showing signs of starting to erupt on Friday, prompting authorities to move residents to temporary shelters, a state-affiliated broadcaster and a government geological office said.