Long Dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts, Ash Disrupts Regional Flights

A long dormant volcano identified as Hayli Gubbi in Ethiopia’s northeastern Afar region erupted on Nov. 23 and 24, 2025, producing a dramatic ash column that satellite estimates placed between roughly 9 and 14 kilometers in height, or about 5 to 9 miles. The plume was picked up by the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and tracked as it moved across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman and farther into parts of South Asia, prompting aviation authorities in several countries to issue advisories and reroute air traffic.

Local officials said the eruption was the first recorded activity for Hayli Gubbi in the Holocene, a period spanning roughly 10,000 to 12,000 years, making the event of particular geological significance. Although authorities reported no immediate human fatalities, ashfall blanketed nearby settlements and grazing lands, creating acute risks for pastoralist communities whose livelihoods depend on livestock. Roads and local services were disrupted by ash accumulation and the tremors that accompanied the eruption, leaving some tourists and guides stranded in small Afar area settlements.

The eruption has highlighted the vulnerability of regional airspace to volcanic ash. Aviation experts caution that ash can erode engines and reduce visibility, risks that have in the past led to widespread cancellations and economic costs far beyond the immediate vicinity of an eruption. In this instance, aviation advisories were issued by affected countries and international monitoring centers, which advised caution for aircraft operators flying through or near the plume. Airlines and air traffic authorities typically coordinate with meteorological and volcanic ash centers to adjust flight paths, and officials said monitoring of the plume's drift would continue.

Beyond immediate transport concerns, the eruption has renewed scientific interest in the East African rift system, where the Arabian, African and Somali plates interact and where volcanic and seismic activity is an ongoing reality. Researchers warned that the event could trigger additional seismic activity in a region already characterized by tectonic movement, and international monitoring agencies urged residents to remain cautious as they assess potential further unrest.

Humanitarian actors and local leaders are now weighing the short term needs of affected communities. Ash can contaminate water sources, harm livestock through inhalation and by covering pasture, and create respiratory health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. Pastoralist families in Afar already face climatic and economic pressures, and the eruption has intensified immediate concerns about fodder, water and mobility.

The eruption of a volcano with no recent recorded activity underscores how much remains unknown about subterranean processes in rift zones and how local events can have far reaching consequences through modern aviation networks. As satellite monitoring and ground assessments continue, authorities in Ethiopia and neighboring states will be balancing public safety, humanitarian assistance and the logistics of international air travel in response to an event that geologists say could reshape local hazard maps for years to come.