In a significant geological event, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region has erupted for the first time in millennia, sending massive clouds of ash and smoke into the atmosphere. Located about 800 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa, the eruption, which occurred on Sunday morning, resulted in ash fallout affecting the nearby village of Afdera and even reaching as far as Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan.
Despite the dramatic nature of the eruption, there have been no reported casualties. Local resident Ahmed Abdela described the experience as feeling “like a sudden bomb had been thrown,” highlighting the immediate impact on the community. Many residents and tourists planning to visit the Danakil desert found themselves stranded due to the ash covering the area.
Local administrator Mohammed Seid emphasized the potential economic implications of the eruption for the community, particularly for livestock herders. While no lives or animals have been lost, the ash has obscured grazing lands, leaving herders concerned about food shortages for their livestock.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, which rises 500 meters in altitude, is situated within the Rift Valley, an area known for its intense geological activity due to the convergence of tectonic plates. According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, this is the first recorded eruption of Hayli Gubbi in what is known as the Holocene epoch, which began around 12,000 years ago.
Despite the challenges posed by the eruption, authorities in the Afar region are monitoring the situation closely, and continued efforts will hopefully lead to a rapid recovery for the affected communities. As scientists study this unprecedented event, it serves as a reminder of the planet’s dynamic nature and the resilience of communities in the face of natural disturbances.