Ethiopia's Long-Dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts After 12,000 Years
A geological giant in northern Ethiopia, the Hayli Gubbi volcano, has dramatically sprung back to life after an estimated 12,000 years of profound silence. This powerful eruption, which occurred on a recent Sunday morning, propelled massive plumes of ash high into the atmosphere, creating a spectacular yet concerning display that impacted distant regions including Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan.
Ash Clouds Soar Across Continents
Situated in Ethiopia's geologically vibrant Afar region, approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) northeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, Hayli Gubbi's sudden awakening left the nearby village of Afdera blanketed under a thick layer of ash. Ahmed Abdela, a local resident, vividly recounted the experience, stating it "felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown."
The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in France confirmed that the dense smoke plumes ascended to altitudes of up to 14 kilometers (nine miles), commencing their extensive trajectory across the Red Sea and beyond.
Local Impact and Economic Concerns
While initial assessments fortunately report no human casualties or loss of livestock, the eruption presents significant economic challenges for the region's communities, who primarily rely on livestock herding. Mohammed Seid, a local administrator, expressed concern, noting that "many villages have been covered in ash, and as a result, their animals have little to eat." Furthermore, the unforeseen ashfall led to tourists, originally headed for the renowned Danakil desert, finding themselves stranded in ash-covered Afdera.
A Rift Valley Awakening
This event marks the first known activity of the Hayli Gubbi volcano during the current geological epoch, known as the Holocene, which began roughly 12,000 years ago following the end of the last Ice Age. Standing approximately 500 meters tall, the volcano is an integral part of the Great Rift Valley – a region famous for its intense geological dynamism where two colossal tectonic plates converge. Afar authorities are continuing their monitoring efforts and assessing the long-term repercussions of this ancient giant's reawakening.