Why Ethiopia's Dormant Volcano Hayli Gubbi Erupts After 12,000 Years?

The ashes emanating after the Hayli Gubbi Volcano eruption in Ethiopia have obstructed visibility to halt several flight operations coming and going out of the region. The Ethiopian dormant volcano erupted first time in 12,000 years, bringing a plume of ashes reaching several kilometers in the sky.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano is in Ethiopia’s northeastern region, nearly 800 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa, near the Eritrean border. It is located within the Rift Valley, having a zone of intense geological activity where two tectonic plates meet.

As per the experts’ views dormant volcano is most likely to erupt due to the tectonic activity in the region. As per the Smithsonian Institute’s Global Volcanism Program, Hayli Gubbi has had no known eruptions during the Holocene, which starts about 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.

The northern Ethiopian long-dormant volcano erupted on Sunday, sending ash plumes up to 14 kilometers high in the sky and across the Red Sea towards Yemen and Oman, and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India.

Notably, the volcanic ash will reportedly be observed in the upper troposphere only and has no impact on the air quality and weather. The clouds are made of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and glass particles.

Volcanic eruption did not reportedly cause any casualties, whereas it could have economic implications for the local community of livestock herders.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a detailed advisory asking airlines to strictly avoid published volcanic ash-affected areas and flight levels, adjusting flight plans, routes, and fuel considerations.

The ash clouds reached Delhi around 11 pm and drifted over Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana.  As per the IMD reports, it will move towards China next and is expected to leave India by 7:30 pm on Tuesday.