A volcano in north-eastern Ethiopia has exploded for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, propelling dense plumes of ash as high as 9 miles (14km) into the atmosphere, according to volcanic observers.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region about 500 miles northeast of the capital Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, burst forth on Sunday for several hours.
This volcano, which rises about 500 metres in elevation, resides within the Great Rift Valley, a area of intense geological movement where multiple continental plates converge.
Volcanic ash from the eruption traveled over the nation of Yemen, Oman's airspace, India and northern Pakistan, observation agencies indicated.
Satellite imagery showing ash from the Hayli Gubbi volcanic event in the country.
In videos shared on online platforms, a thick column of pale ash could be observed ascending, though confirmation was not immediately available.
International volcanic activity programs stated that the volcano has had no recorded eruptions during the Holocene epoch, which started about 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.
A volcanic expert confirmed on a social platform that this volcano “has no record of eruptions in the Holocene”.
Regional authorities have not yet responded regarding possible injuries or the number of displaced people.
