12,000-year-dormant Ethiopian volcano erupts, grounding flights and triggering widespread regional air travel chaos.
A long-dormant volcano in northern Ethiopia, Hayli Gubbi, erupted unexpectedly on Sunday, marking its first known activity in nearly 12,000 years. The volcano sent massive ash and dust plumes high into the atmosphere, affecting air quality locally and causing widespread flight disruptions across Pakistan, India, the UAE, and neighboring regions.
Eruption Details and Initial Observations
Hayli Gubbi, part of the Erta Ale volcanic range in Ethiopia’s Afar region, erupted around 11:30 a.m. local time (08:30 GMT), according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.
Residents reported faint smoke appearing days before the eruption, but no formal scientific warnings had been issued.
Satellite imagery displayed thick ash clouds rising approximately 45,000 meters (148,000 feet) and drifting primarily northwest towards the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula.
Local Impact and Community Concerns
Ethiopian officials reported no casualties, but ashfall blanketed villages in Afdera and other areas, with residents describing sudden loud explosions and dark smoke enveloping their communities.
Livestock herders face significant challenges as ash covers forage, limiting animal grazing, and clean water access. Local medical teams were deployed to assist those affected by respiratory issues caused by the ash.
Authorities emphasize potential economic hardships for the predominantly pastoral population.
Geological Background of Hayli Gubbi
Hayli Gubbi is a shield volcano approximately 800 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa, standing about 500 meters tall.
It is the southernmost in the Erta Ale range, which includes one of Ethiopia’s most active volcanoes, Erta Ale, known for its recent lava overflow in January 2023.
Unlike Erta Ale, Hayli Gubbi had remained dormant throughout the Holocene epoch until this eruption.
Widespread Air Travel Disruptions
Volcanic ash clouds traveled eastwards across the Red Sea towards Yemen, Oman, and across the Arabian Sea, reaching Pakistan and India. The ash cloud has caused cancellations and reroutes of numerous flights across several countries.
Indian airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air suspended flights, impacting key airports including Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Safety advisories urged airlines to avoid ash-covered regions and inspect aircraft for possible ash damage.
Flights from the UAE to India were also affected, though some carriers like Emirates and Etihad reported normal operations.
Ash Cloud Continues to Move East
With Indian skies now clear of volcanic ash, the plume from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano continues drifting eastward toward China. Monitoring of the ash cloud has been transferred to the Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), which is tracking its progression.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at the IMD, said that the ash is primarily concentrated at flight altitudes between 35,000 and 40,000 feet for international flights and 25,000 to 33,000 feet for domestic services. The plume is anticipated to reach China by now.
Historical Context and Rarity of Impact
Such widespread air traffic disruption due to volcanic ash is rare, with the last major comparable event occurring in 2010 during Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull eruption.
That eruption led to prolonged European airspace closures and immense economic losses.
This recent Ethiopian event, while not causing casualties, serves as a reminder of the far-reaching consequences volcanic activity can have on global transportation networks.
Expert Insights and Continuing Monitoring
Geologists note that Ethiopia’s location along the active Afar Rift explains frequent seismic and volcanic activity, situating this eruption within a known tectonic hotspot.
Satellite data reveal fresh lava flows around Hayli Gubbi, suggesting eruptions in past centuries may have gone undocumented. Local and international agencies continue monitoring ash dispersion and volcanic activity levels to anticipate further developments.
This eruption highlights the importance of vigilant geological surveillance in the Horn of Africa and highlights how natural events in one region can ripple across continents, impacting daily life and commerce thousands of miles away.
