A major volcanic eruption in Ethiopia has caused significant disruption to international air travel, leading to multiple flight cancellations across Asia.
An Unprecedented Eruption
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia erupted on Sunday morning, marking its first recorded eruption in thousands of years. The event sent vast plumes of volcanic ash soaring to an astonishing height of 8.7 miles (14km) into the atmosphere.
According to satellite imagery from NASA, the resulting ash cloud was so extensive that it travelled over the Red Sea, reaching Yemen and Oman by Monday evening.
Impact on Aviation and Local Communities
The dense ash cloud posed a severe hazard to aircraft, forcing several airlines to ground services. Air India was compelled to cancel 11 flights, while competitor Akasa Air scrapped its services to key destinations including Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.
Another carrier, IndiGo, announced on social media that it was closely monitoring the volatile situation in coordination with international aviation bodies to ensure passenger safety.
The India Meteorological Department provided an update, confirming the ash clouds were moving towards China but were expected to clear Indian skies by 7.30pm local time (2pm UK time).
Local Fallout and Future Concerns
On the ground, the neighbouring village of Afdera was left covered in a layer of volcanic dust. Local administrator Mohammed Seid informed the Associated Press that, while there were no human casualties, the eruption could cause significant issues for the region's livestock herders.
"While no human lives and livestock have been lost so far, many villages have been covered in ash and as a result their animals have little to eat," he stated.
Ahmed Abdela, a local resident, described the terrifying moment of the eruption to news agencies, saying "it felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash." The event underscores the potential for long-dormant volcanoes to reawaken with little warning, affecting both local communities and global infrastructure.
