Ethiopia's Volcano Erupts for Initial Instance in Twelve Millennia
A volcanic peak in northeastern Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, propelling thick columns of smoke up to 9 miles (14km) into the sky, according to volcanic observers.
The Hayli Gubbi, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region about 500 miles northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, erupted on Sunday for a number of hours.
This volcanic structure, which rises about 500 metres in elevation, sits within the Great Rift Valley, a area of significant geological movement where two continental plates meet.
Volcanic ash from the blast traveled over Yemen, Oman, the Indian subcontinent and northern Pakistan, monitoring sources stated.
Satellite imagery depicting volcanic debris from the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.
In footage circulated on social media, a thick column of white smoke could be observed ascending, though confirmation was pending.
International volcanic activity databases noted that the volcano has had no recorded outbursts during the Holocene epoch, which began about 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.
A volcanologist affirmed on a social platform that Hayli Gubbi “has no record of eruptions in the Holocene”.
Regional officials have not yet responded regarding possible casualties or the count of displaced people.
