Dormant for millennium: Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts for first time

Ethiopia’s Afar region has witnessed for the first time in recorded history the eruption of long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano, sending the large columns of ash plumes towards Oman and Yemen.

This is for the first time in 10,000 years, the southernmost volcano in the Erta Ale range erupted in Ethiopia, as per experts’ findings.

The explosive eruption was recorded around 8:30 a.m. UTC on Sunday, according to an advisory from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC).

Resultantly, the volcanic activity sent plumes up to 14 km (45,000 feet) high and released sulfur dioxide.

As of the latest update from VAAC advisory, the eruption has been stopped.

According to the VAAC map, lower-level ash seemed to be drifting over the Red Sea towards Oman, Djibouti, and Oman, prompting the alerts for flights.

On the other hand, the upper-level ash is expected to move farther towards parts of Pakistan, Iran, and India.

Dormant for millennium, Hayli Gubbi is situated in the southeast of the Erta Ale volcanic range in the Afar Rift, considered as one of the most highly active volcanic areas in East Africa.

As a result of the eruption, no reports regarding community damage and flight impacts have been received.