Hayli Gubbi Eruption Shocks Ethiopia

After lying dormant for roughly 12,000 years, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday, November 23. 2025 sending a towering plume of ash into the atmosphere and triggering regional alerts across Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and South Asia. The eruption marks the volcano’s first known activity in the Holocene period, making it one of the most significant geological events recorded in the region in modern history.

The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) reported that the ash column rose to an estimated 14 kilometers above sea level, a height typically associated with highly explosive eruptions. Satellite instruments also detected a substantial release of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), indicating that magma had reached the surface under intense internal pressure.

Hayli Gubbi, located within the highly active Erta Ale volcanic range in the East African Rift, is classified as a shield volcano—a type usually known for slow, effusive lava flows. However, the scale and explosiveness of the current eruption defied expectations. Geologists say this is a rare reminder that even shield volcanoes can erupt violently when long-term pressure builds beneath the surface.

Professor Simon Carn, a volcanic activity specialist, emphasized the historic nature of the event. He noted that there are no documented eruptions of Hayli Gubbi during the past 10,000–12,000 years, meaning the volcano has been entirely absent from the modern geological record. “This volcano has no known Holocene eruption history,” Carn said, underscoring the importance of satellite monitoring for a remote region where on-the-ground observations are extremely limited.

Local Impact: Villages Covered in Ash

Communities near the volcano were among the first to feel the effects. Residents in Afdera district described a sudden blast followed by a shock wave and a cloud of ash enveloping the area.
“It felt like a bomb going off,” said Ahmed Abdela, a villager who witnessed the eruption. “A huge wave of ash came down with a loud explosion.”

Regional administrator Mohammed Seid confirmed that although no fatalities have been reported, several villages have been blanketed in ash, severely affecting grazing lands. “No humans or livestock have been lost so far,” Seid said, “but the ash has covered the rangelands, and now there is little left for the animals to eat.”

Livestock is the primary source of income for Afar pastoralists, raising concerns that the medium-term ecological impact may evolve into an economic crisis. Dust inhalation, reduced forage availability, and contaminated water sources are emerging as immediate threats.

One of the most notable aspects of the eruption is the far-reaching trajectory of the ash plume. Driven by strong upper-atmospheric winds, volcanic debris drifted eastward across the Red Sea, affecting parts of Yemen and Oman. Atmospheric models later indicated that traces of ash and SO₂ continued moving toward northern India and Pakistan, prompting early advisories for aviation and public health.

Aviation agencies in several countries issued route warnings, noting that volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines, obstruct sensors, and severely reduce visibility. Flights over parts of the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula were reported to have altered their paths as a precaution.

In Oman, authorities issued air quality advisories, urging residents with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor activity despite no immediate spike in pollution levels being detected.

A Remote and Volatile Geological Zone

The eruption highlights the geological volatility of the Afar Depression, one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on Earth. The region sits at the meeting point of three diverging tectonic plates and is one of the few places globally where the Earth’s mantle is exposed at the surface.

Because the terrain is nearly inaccessible and temperatures can exceed 50°C, most volcanic monitoring in the area relies on satellites. Scientists expect that field studies—when they become possible—will provide valuable insights into the eruption dynamics and the current state of the rift system.

The sudden awakening of Hayli Gubbi serves as a reminder that long-dormant volcanoes remain unpredictable, especially in tectonically active zones. Experts argue that expanded monitoring networks, improved early-warning systems, and stronger regional coordination are essential to understanding future risks.

For now, the full environmental and socio-economic consequences of the eruption are still unfolding. As ash continues to drift and communities assess damage on the ground, Ethiopia and neighboring countries remain on high alert for additional activity. (Sulung Prasetyo)

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