Volcanic Eruption in Ethiopia Sends Ash Cloud to Asia, Disrupts Flights

A volcanic eruption in Ethiopia on Tuesday resulted in an ash cloud drifting into Asia, impacting flights in India and China. The volcano, Hayli Gubbi, erupted in northeastern Ethiopia on Sunday, with the ash cloud traveling towards the Indian subcontinent. India experienced flight cancellations and delays due to the ash cloud, with rerouted flights as a precautionary measure. Air India, one of the major airlines in the country, canceled several flights passing through major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
The ash cloud continued its journey eastward on Tuesday, reaching Myanmar and southern China. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center reported on the movement of the ash cloud, which raised concerns about flight disruptions in the affected regions. Despite initial reports suggesting a 12,000-year hiatus in volcanic activity in Hayli Gubbi, no casualties were reported from the recent eruption in Ethiopia. The lack of recorded volcanic events does not discount the possibility of past eruptions, given the remote location of the volcano.
The Center for the Observation and Modeling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tectonics in Britain pointed out the presence of fresh lava flows in satellite imagery before the eruption, hinting at recent volcanic activity in the area. Hayli Gubbi’s location on the Afar Rift, a tectonic region known for seismic activity, increases the likelihood of volcanic eruptions. The rift has witnessed multiple eruptions in the past few months, highlighting the dynamic nature of the region.