🌋 "Volcanic Awakening": Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi Erupts Explosively for the First Time in Recorded History

In an event described by volcanologists as an "extraordinary volcanic awakening," the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia's remote Afar region erupted explosively on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

The eruption is historically significant because Hayli Gubbi, the southernmost volcano of the Erta Ale Range, has no known record of any eruption in modern history and is estimated by geologists to have been silent for as long as 10,000 years (the entirety of the Holocene period). The sudden, powerful explosion has drawn immediate global scientific and aviation attention.

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💥 The Explosion and Ash Plume

The eruption began abruptly on Sunday morning in one of the hottest and most inaccessible regions on the planet, the Danakil Depression.

Key Details of the Event:

• Time of Onset: Approximately 08:30 UTC (11:30 AM local time) on November 23, 2025.

• Magnitude: The eruption was explosive, generating a massive plume of ash and gas.

• Plume Altitude: Satellite imagery and reports from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) confirmed the ash plume soared to estimated altitudes of 10 to 15 kilometers (33,000 to 49,000 feet).

• Dispersal: The high-altitude winds carried the dense ash and sulfur dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$) cloud rapidly eastward, across the Red Sea and over parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Yemen and Oman. Lower-level plumes were also detected drifting towards Djibouti.

• Confirmation: Due to the volcano's remote location, the eruption was initially confirmed primarily through satellite data, with volcanologists like Professor Simon Carn sharing real-time images of the dense smoke and $\text{SO}_2$ plume.

The eruption's sheer power and the estimated 10,000-year repose interval make it a geological rarity and a major scientific event for East Africa's active tectonic zone, the Afar Rift.

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✈️ Aviation Alerts and Monitoring

The most immediate concern following the explosion was the impact on international air travel, particularly across the busy air corridors connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

• VAAC Advisories: The Toulouse VAAC issued multiple advisories throughout Sunday and Monday, warning airlines about the presence and movement of the ash plume. Volcanic ash is a severe hazard to jet engines, capable of causing engine failure.

• Regional Monitoring: Aviation authorities in the Middle East, including the Environment Authority in Oman, confirmed they are closely monitoring the atmospheric situation and air quality across the Sultanate's governorates, a process that may continue for several days as the plume disperses.

• Global Reach: Later advisories indicated that the upper-level ash could potentially drift farther east toward parts of Iran, Pakistan, and India, prompting increased monitoring by aviation safety agencies in those regions.

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🌍 The Significance of Hayli Gubbi

Hayli Gubbi is a shield volcano situated approximately 15 kilometers southeast of the much more frequently active Erta Ale volcano, known for its persistent lava lake.

Geological Importance

The Afar Rift, where Hayli Gubbi lies, is a highly volatile area where the African and Arabian tectonic plates are slowly separating. While the region is volcanically active, Hayli Gubbi itself had been geologically obscure.

The lack of any recorded Holocene eruptions means that scientists now have a unique opportunity to study the first known major explosive activity from this specific, long-silent volcanic structure. Researchers hope to use the extensive satellite and remote monitoring data gathered during this event to better understand the deep magma plumbing and long-term eruptive cycles in this tectonically complex region.

Humanitarian Impact

Due to its location in the extremely remote and sparsely inhabited Danakil Depression, initial reports indicate that no injuries or property damage were sustained by local communities. The primary risks remain the long-distance air quality impact and the disruption to aviation.

The eruption stopped explosive activity shortly after the initial burst, with lower-level ash plumes continuing to drift as of Monday, November 24, 2025.