Ethiopian Volcano Erupts After 12,000 Years, Ash Reaches Delhi Amid Toxic Air Crisis
Northern Ethiopia witnessed a rare geological event after the Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years. The massive plume of ash was carried by high-speed winds of 100–120 km/h across several countries, eventually entering India and impacting air travel in multiple cities, including Delhi, which is already battling severe pollution levels.
The ash cloud first drifted into Gujarat before spreading across Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ash mass was thousands of feet high in the atmosphere and is expected to pass out of Indian skies by 7:30 pm. "High-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India," the IMD said in a statement. The cloud is now moving towards China.
Aviation Body Issues Advisory After Hayli Gubbi Volcano Eruption
As the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia continues to erupt, India’s aviation authorities have stepped in with safety measures. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has advised airlines to strictly avoid volcanic ash-affected routes and flight levels, and to rework their flight planning, routing, and fuel requirements based on real-time updates. The DGCA has also instructed airlines to immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including issues such as engine performance problems or cabin smoke and odour.
Major carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, have been impacted. Air India confirmed that it had cancelled eleven flights after conducting precautionary inspections on aircraft that flew over potentially affected zones. Flights from Newark to Delhi, New York to Delhi, Dubai to Hyderabad, Doha to Mumbai, Dubai to Chennai, Dammam to Mumbai, Doha to Delhi, Chennai to Mumbai, and Hyderabad to Delhi were among those cancelled.
Air India wrote on X, "We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen situation beyond our control. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority."
IndiGo also assured passengers that it was closely monitoring the situation. Posting on X, the airline said, “Following the recent eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India. We understand that such news may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that your safety remains our highest priority. Our teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies. We are fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations.”
With air routes being reviewed and ash patterns shifting, airlines and regulators continue to stay on high alert to ensure passenger safety and minimal disruption.
Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts in Ethiopia After millennia of dormancy
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted dramatically, shooting towering plumes of smoke up to 14 kilometres into the sky and blanketing nearby villages in ash. The volcano, rising roughly 500 metres within the Rift Valley a hotspot of tectonic activity where two major plates meet had shown no known eruptions in more than 12,000 years.
Unverified videos circulating on social media showed a massive column of white smoke billowing upward. Residents in the area described the event as sudden and frightening. One local told AP, “It felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash.” The Afar region is known for frequent seismic activity, and witnesses reported hearing a loud blast that resembled a shockwave.
According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, Hayli Gubbi has no recorded eruptions during the Holocene, making this event its first known activity since the end of the last Ice Age.
The ash cloud first drifted into Gujarat before spreading across Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ash mass was thousands of feet high in the atmosphere and is expected to pass out of Indian skies by 7:30 pm. "High-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India," the IMD said in a statement. The cloud is now moving towards China.
Aviation Body Issues Advisory After Hayli Gubbi Volcano Eruption
As the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia continues to erupt, India’s aviation authorities have stepped in with safety measures. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has advised airlines to strictly avoid volcanic ash-affected routes and flight levels, and to rework their flight planning, routing, and fuel requirements based on real-time updates. The DGCA has also instructed airlines to immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including issues such as engine performance problems or cabin smoke and odour. Major carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, have been impacted. Air India confirmed that it had cancelled eleven flights after conducting precautionary inspections on aircraft that flew over potentially affected zones. Flights from Newark to Delhi, New York to Delhi, Dubai to Hyderabad, Doha to Mumbai, Dubai to Chennai, Dammam to Mumbai, Doha to Delhi, Chennai to Mumbai, and Hyderabad to Delhi were among those cancelled.
Air India wrote on X, "We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen situation beyond our control. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority."
IndiGo also assured passengers that it was closely monitoring the situation. Posting on X, the airline said, “Following the recent eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India. We understand that such news may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that your safety remains our highest priority. Our teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies. We are fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations.”
With air routes being reviewed and ash patterns shifting, airlines and regulators continue to stay on high alert to ensure passenger safety and minimal disruption.
Volcanic Impact and Local Reactions
According to weather experts, the ash plume contained mostly sulphur dioxide, with low to moderate volcanic ash content. One expert noted, “It will not impact AQI (air quality index) levels, but it will impact SO2 levels in the hills of Nepal, the Himalayas and the adjoining Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh, as some of the material will bump into the hills and later move into China,”Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts in Ethiopia After millennia of dormancy
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted dramatically, shooting towering plumes of smoke up to 14 kilometres into the sky and blanketing nearby villages in ash. The volcano, rising roughly 500 metres within the Rift Valley a hotspot of tectonic activity where two major plates meet had shown no known eruptions in more than 12,000 years. Unverified videos circulating on social media showed a massive column of white smoke billowing upward. Residents in the area described the event as sudden and frightening. One local told AP, “It felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash.” The Afar region is known for frequent seismic activity, and witnesses reported hearing a loud blast that resembled a shockwave.
According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, Hayli Gubbi has no recorded eruptions during the Holocene, making this event its first known activity since the end of the last Ice Age.
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