A long-dormant volcano has erupted in northern Ethiopia for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, with winds moving at a speed of 100-120 km/h carrying the ash plumes to many countries, including India.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia erupted on Sunday morning, with the ash clouds reportedly reaching Delhi, which is already struggling with the toxic air, late last night, affecting flight operations to countries in the Middle East and Europe. Some flights to neighbouring Asian countries were also impacted.
The ash plume, thousands of feet up in the atmosphere, reportedly first entered Gujarat and drifted towards Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.
⚠️ Ethiopia: The Hayli Gobi volcano erupted today for the first time in ten thousand years and sent ash up to a height of 15 km.🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/aiPVhhO4rr
— Dr. Fundji Benedict (@Fundji3) November 24, 2025
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory, asking airlines to strictly avoid published volcanic ash-affected areas and flight levels and adjust flight planning, routing and fuel considerations based on the latest advisories.
Airlines have also been asked to immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke/odour.
Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet were among the airlines that were affected.
“Following the recent eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India. We understand that such news may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that your safety remains our highest priority. Our teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies. We are fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations,” IndiGo posted on X.
A weather expert said the ash plume mostly consists of sulphur dioxide with low to moderate concentrations of volcanic ash.
“It will not impact AQI (air quality index) levels, but it will impact SO2 levels in the hills of Nepal, the Himalayas and the adjoining Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh, as some of the material will bump into the hills and later move into China,” the expert wrote on X.
Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts In Ethiopia
The Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted in the Afar region of Ethiopia, sending thick plumes of smoke up to 14 kilometres into the sky and covering many villages in ash.
The volcano, which rises about 500 metres in altitude, sits within the Rift Valley, a zone of intense geological activity where two tectonic plates meet.
Videos on social media, which NDTV could not immediately verify, showed a thick column of white smoke rising.
🇪🇹🌋 Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts for the first time in 10,000 years
The eruption sent a massive ash plume rising 10-15 kilometers into the sky.
📍 Northeastern Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/gHaDkA6XKz
— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) November 24, 2025
The Afar region is prone to earthquakes, and a resident said he heard a loud sound and described it as a shock wave.
“It felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash,” a resident told news agency AP.
The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program said Hayli Gubbi has had no known eruptions during the Holocene, which began around 12,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age.