Ethiopia’s Hairi Gubbi volcano, situated around 800 miles from Addis Ababa, erupted on Sunday for the first time in approximately 12,000 years. While not the most catastrophic eruption recorded, it released a significant ash plume that quickly traveled through the subtropical jet stream, affecting areas in Yemen, Oman, India, and Pakistan. Air India announced on Tuesday that it had to cancel at least 11 flights due to concerns over the ash clouds.
Mr. Multunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), noted, “The affected altitudes are between 8.5 kilometers (5.2 miles) and 15 kilometers above sea level.” He also added that while the eruption might impact satellite operations and aviation, it’s not expected to drastically alter weather conditions or air quality. Interestingly, the ash reached northern India the previous night and seems to be moving towards China.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation in India has cautioned pilots to be vigilant for signs of volcanic ash, which may include unusual smells, visible smoke in the cabin, and unusual engine behavior.
On the ground in Ethiopia, local officials reported no fatalities or damage from the eruption, though they did express worries about the ash affecting local agriculture and livestock. “So far, there has been no loss of life or livestock, but many villages are now blanketed in ash, leaving animals with little food,” commented Mohamed Said, a local administrator.
Witnesses described the eruption as sounding more like a bomb going off rather than an earthquake. The region is known for its seismic activity, given it lies at a “triple junction” where three tectonic plates meet.
This sudden explosion caught scientists off guard, making it challenging to measure its effects accurately.
Hairi Gubbi stands at over 1,600 feet and is the southernmost volcano in the Erta Ale mountain range. Other volcanoes in this range remain active, including Erta Ale, located about 9 miles northwest, which is known for having the world’s oldest lava lake. According to volcanologists, Erta Ale has been continuously active since its last significant eruption in 1967, complicating survey efforts due to severe local conditions like high temperatures and scarce rainfall.
Another volcano in the vicinity, Dabahu, erupted in 2005, leading to a series of earthquakes. Thankfully, the lack of casualties or damage from Sunday’s eruption can likely be attributed to the sparse population in geologically unstable areas.
Despite possessing typical volcanic features, scientists had found no prior evidence that Hairi Gubbi had erupted during the Holocene epoch, which began around 11,700 years ago. The eruption itself continued for several hours.
