A volcano in northeastern Ethiopia has erupted for the initial occasion in approximately 12,000 years, sending dense columns of ash as high as 9 miles (14km) into the sky, as reported by volcanological observers.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, situated in Ethiopia’s Afar region about 500 miles northeast of the capital Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, erupted on Sunday for a number of hours.
This volcano, which rises about 500 metres in elevation, resides within the Great Rift Valley, a area of significant tectonic movement where multiple continental plates meet.
Ash clouds from the blast traveled over the nation of Yemen, Oman, the Indian subcontinent and Pakistan's northern areas, observation sources stated.
A satellite image depicting volcanic debris from the Hayli Gubbi volcanic event in Ethiopia.
In footage shared on online platforms, a heavy column of white smoke could be seen rising, though confirmation was not immediately available.
International volcanism programs noted that the volcano has had no recorded outbursts during the Holocene, which began about 12,000 years ago at the end of the most recent glacial period.
A volcanic expert confirmed on a online service that this volcano “has no record of eruptions in the Holocene”.
Local officials have not yet responded regarding potential injuries or the count of displaced people.
