A remote volcano in Ethiopia‘s Afar Rift Valley erupted sunday, sending a massive plume of ash 14 kilometers into the atmosphere-the first confirmed eruption from Hayli Gubbi in over 11,700 years.The eruption prompted alerts from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC Toulouse) due to potential hazards to air travel, though reports indicate the eruption ceased later Sunday with residual ash drifting at lower altitudes. The event highlights the ongoing geological activity in the seismically active Afar region, where the African and Arabian tectonic plates are pulling apart.
Nairobi. A volcano in Ethiopia, long considered dormant, erupted on Sunday, sending a plume of ash 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) into the atmosphere. The eruption of Hayli Gubbi, located in the Afar Rift Valley, marks the first confirmed activity from the volcano in at least 10,000 years, according to data from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC Toulouse).
The eruption, detected through satellite imagery at 8:30 GMT due to the remote and sparsely populated location, generated an ash column that exceeded typical altitudes used by commercial aviation. This poses a potential hazard to air travel in the region, prompting close monitoring by aviation authorities.
By 8:00 PM GMT on Sunday, VAAC Toulouse confirmed that the eruption had ceased, though residual ash continued to drift at altitudes between 5.2 and 6.1 kilometers (3.2 and 3.8 miles) above sea level over Ethiopia.
The eruption of Hayli Gubbi underscores the ongoing geological activity within the Afar Rift Valley, a region in eastern Africa where the Earth’s tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. The valley is known for its intense volcanic and geothermal activity, and is located southeast of Erta Ale, a volcano famous for its persistent lava lake.
Prior to Sunday, there were no recorded instances of activity from Hayli Gubbi dating back over 11,700 years, leading scientists to classify it as a dormant or inactive volcano.
Currently, no casualties or significant damage have been reported due to the remote location and low population density. Monitoring efforts are largely reliant on remote sensing and satellite analysis.
VAAC Toulouse, designated by the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is responsible for monitoring volcanic ash across much of Africa and issuing official advisories for civil aviation.
