Ethiopian Volcano Awakens After 12,000 Years

Ethiopian Volcano Eruption After 12,000 Years Sends Ash Toward India, Triggers Aviation Alerts Across Delhi and Northern Regions

Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has erupted for the first time in over 12,000 years, marking a rare and powerful geological event. The eruption sent a massive plume of volcanic ash soaring nearly 10–15 km into the sky, leading to significant disruptions in aviation and raising widespread concern across multiple countries, including India. High-altitude winds carried ash rapidly toward western and northern India, prompting airport and airline authorities in cities like Delhi and Mumbai to issue advisories and warnings for passengers.

Why the Ethiopian Volcano Eruption Has Triggered Flight Cancellations

The sudden activity of this long-dormant volcano has affected key international flight routes connecting India with the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Several major airlines—including IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, and KLM—cancelled or diverted flights on Tuesday to avoid dangerous ash clouds.
Volcanic ash poses severe risks to aircraft engines, navigation systems, and visibility. Even small amounts of ash can melt inside a jet engine, harden, and cause catastrophic failure. Airports such as Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have issued advisories informing passengers of potential delays and rerouting due to affected West Asian airspace. Delhi’s aviation officials are maintaining high alert as the ash cloud moves rapidly across northern regions.

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Where Is the Hayli Gubbi Volcano Located?

A Remote Giant in Ethiopia’s Afar Rift System

The Hayli Gubbi is a remote shield volcano located in Ethiopia’s Afar Region and forms part of the southern Erta Ale volcanic range. It stands at an elevation of around 493 metres above sea level. Although the Afar region is one of the most tectonically active areas on Earth, Hayli Gubbi has shown no confirmed eruptions during the past 10,000–12,000 years—until its explosive event on November 23, 2025.
Satellite-based monitoring first detected the eruption due to the remote and inhospitable environment around the volcano. The eruption released massive quantities of sulfur dioxide and sent ash drifting across the Red Sea toward Oman, Yemen, Pakistan, Iran, and India.

How Did the Ethiopian Volcano Erupt After 12,000 Years?

Tectonic Movement and Geological Pressure Build-Up

The eruption is believed to have been triggered by a mix of tectonic stretching, new magma intrusion, and trapped volcanic gases. Located at the junction of the African, Somali, and Arabian tectonic plates, the Afar Rift is slowly pulling apart, thinning the Earth’s crust and opening deep pathways for magma to rise.
Over thousands of years, magma likely accumulated beneath Hayli Gubbi but was unable to escape due to a hardened crustal seal. As pressure increased, the sealed system eventually burst, releasing gas-charged magma explosively and producing the towering ash plume visible from satellite imagery.

How the Ash Reached India

When the eruption occurred, jet-stream-like upper-level winds carried volcanic ash eastward at speeds of nearly 100–120 km/h. Meteorological agencies confirmed that by Monday night, ash entered western India through Gujarat, spreading toward Rajasthan, northwest Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi. Ash was observed between altitudes of 15,000 and 45,000 ft, directly impacting aviation routes. DGCA issued urgent advisories, resulting in rerouted flight paths and precautionary cancellations.

Will Ash Affect Delhi’s Air Quality?

IMD Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra confirmed that no significant decline in air quality is expected in Delhi because the ash cloud is concentrated at high altitudes. While temporary haze or slight dimming of daylight may occur, surface-level pollution is unlikely to worsen significantly. Any potential effects are expected to be brief as winds continue to disperse ash particles.

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Conclusion

The Ethiopian Volcano eruption of Hayli Gubbi is a rare geological event with wide-reaching global implications. While aviation disruptions may continue temporarily, experts assure that public health and ground-level air quality in India remain safe. Continuous monitoring by meteorological and aviation authorities is ongoing to ensure passenger safety and manage travel operations.

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