A volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in 10,000 years, spewing plumes of thick smoke and ash high into the sky and affecting air travel thousands of miles away. India.
The long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in northeast Ethiopia's Afar region roared back to life on Sunday, covering nearby villages in dust and creating challenges for farmers.
Ethiopian volcano erupts for first time in 10,000 years
Although no casualties have been reported, the eruption poses a threat to the local herding community by choking out vital pastures, local administrator Mohammed Seid told The Associated Press.
Residents reported hearing a terrifying explosion at the time of the eruption.
“It was like a sudden bomb was thrown with smoke and ashes,” said a local resident. Ahmed Abdela told the news agency.
The eruption was visible from satellites, with NASA images showing thick plumes of dust rising into the sky and crossing the Red Sea.
Volcanic clouds from the eruption drifted over Yemen, Oman and towards Pakistan and India, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.
Pakistan's meteorological department issued a warning after ash entered its airspace on Monday evening.
In India, the national airline Air India canceled several national and international flights to carry out “precautionary checks on planes which had flown over certain geographical areas after the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption”, she indicated on X.
Delhiwhich is experiencing a wave of severe air pollution, is not expected to be significantly affected as the ash is drifting at high altitudes, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The plumes are expected to move eastwards quickly, the IMD added.
Located about 800 kilometers (500 miles) northeast of the capital Addi Ababa, Hayli Gubbi is the southernmost volcano in the Erta Ale Range, a volcanic range in the Afar region of Ethiopia.
It rises to approximately 500 meters above sea level and is located in an area of intense geological activity where two tectonic plates meet.
