Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts After 12,000 Years, Disrupting Flights

A long-dormant volcano in Ethiopia has roared to life. The Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region erupted on Sunday. It was its first eruption in approximately 12,000 years.

The explosion sent massive ash clouds high into the atmosphere. According to the Associated Press, local residents described the event as a sudden shock wave.

Locals Describe Eruption as a “Bomb”

The volcanic event startled nearby communities. A resident named Ahmed Abdela told the Associated Press it felt like a sudden bomb. He said the area was immediately covered in smoke and ash.

The village of Afdera was left coated in a thick layer of dust. The eruption also stranded tourists and guides in the nearby Danakil desert. This region is a known tourist attraction for its extreme landscape.

Ash Cloud Travels Thousands of Miles

The eruption’s impact was felt far beyond Ethiopia. The volcanic ash cloud traveled across the Red Sea. It reached as far as Yemen and Oman.

This widespread dispersion caused significant flight disruptions. Airlines in India were forced to cancel services. Air India and Akasa Air grounded flights to the Middle East as a precaution.

The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program confirmed the volcano’s historic dormancy. A volcanologist from Michigan Technological University, Simon Carn, supported this assessment. He stated Hayli Gubbi has no record of eruptions in the Holocene epoch.

This major geological event highlights the dynamic nature of the East African Rift. The Ethiopia volcano eruption serves as a powerful reminder of the planet’s active forces.

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Q1: When did the Ethiopia volcano last erupt?

The Hayli Gubbi volcano had been dormant for about 12,000 years. Its last known eruption was at the end of the last Ice Age.

Q2: How has the eruption affected air travel?

The ash cloud disrupted flights in the region. Indian airlines cancelled several flights to Middle Eastern destinations like Jeddah and Abu Dhabi.

Q3: What is the Smithsonian Institution’s role?

The Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program tracks volcanic activity worldwide. It provided the historical context confirming the volcano’s long dormancy.

Q4: Where exactly is the volcano located?

The volcano is situated in Ethiopia’s Afar region. This is a geologically active area known as the Danakil Depression.

Q5: Were there any casualties reported?

Initial reports from agencies like AP did not mention any casualties. The primary impacts were ash fall and flight disruptions.

Trusted Sources

Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program