Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts after 12,000 years. Ash cloud travels across the Red Sea toward Yemen, Oman, and the Arabian Sea.

Ash cloud drifts toward Yemen, Oman, India, China, says Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center - Anadolu Ajansı

The eruption sent ash clouds up to 14 km into the sky, affecting Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in France. Rising approximately 500 metres, Hayli Gubbi sits within the geologically active Rift Valley, where tectonic plates converge.

The Oman Environment Authority has issued an advisory about gas and ash emissions from the Hayli Gubbi volcano, noting potential impact on air quality in the Sultanate. The authority confirmed that, so far,

If the volcanic gases interact with moisture, it could even result in acid rain. Emissions of sulfur dioxide accompanying the eruption has also triggered concerns

Why is volcanic ash such a major concern for the aviation sector? Why do aircraft try to avoid volcanic ash-affected areas and altitudes like the plague? We explain.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupted after nearly 12,000 years, sending ash plumes across the Red Sea to India, affecting visibility and air quality in northwest regions before drifting toward China and the Pacific.

Satellite images have captured a rare volcanic eruption that occurred Sunday at Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, sending towering ash plumes toward Yemen and Oman. The eruption is the first recorded activity at the volcano in roughly 10,000 years, offering scientists a striking glimpse of a previously dormant geological site.