Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts For First Time In 12,000 Years: Ash Reaches Delhi, Aviation Alert Issued

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On 23 November 2025, Ethiopia's remote Hayli Gubbi shield volcano in the Afar region erupted. This volcano, long believed to be dormant for over a millennium, sent a dense plume of ash and sulfur dioxide soaring to around 14-15 km (up to ~45,000 ft). Satellite monitoring captured the event and its ongoing ash drift, making the eruption significant for both scientists and aviation authorities.

Photo Credit: Oneindia

How The Ash Cloud Reached India And When It Might Leave

Initial Travel: High-altitude winds carried the volcanic plume from Ethiopia across the Red Sea, passing over Yemen and Oman.

Entry into India: The ash first approached western India, reaching Gujarat.

Spread Across Northern States: From Gujarat, the plume moved toward Rajasthan, Delhi‑NCR, Punjab, and Haryana by around 10 pm IST on 24 November 2025.

Expected Clearance: The ash cloud is forecast to clear from Indian skies by 7:30 pm IST on 25 November 2025, continuing its drift northeast toward China.

What the Ash Cloud Contains

The volcanic plume has a complex composition:

• Fine volcanic ash
• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) gas
• Very small rock and glass particles

These elements make the plume particularly dangerous for aircraft, since fine glassy particles can damage engines.

Impact on Delhi: Air Quality And Sky Effects

• Because much of the ash is high up in the atmosphere, ground-level air quality risk is limited.
• People in Delhi and nearby regions may notice hazy skies or a duller, more muted sun.
• There is some speculation that the ash layer might act like a "thin high-altitude blanket," potentially affecting heat distribution.
• There is a small chance of very light ashfall, but major ash deposition on the ground is not expected.

Aviation Risks And Ongoing Response

• The DGCA (India's aviation regulator) has issued an urgent advisory: airlines should avoid specific altitudes and routes affected by the ash plume.
• Pilots are being told to monitor for any engine anomalies or unusual smells - classic warning signs of ash exposure.
• Several airlines have cancelled or diverted flights. For instance, Air India cancelled multiple flights, while Akasa Air and IndiGo have also modified schedules.
• Airport operators have been asked to inspect runways, taxiways, and aprons for any ash accumulation.

Local Impact In Ethiopia

• The eruption has blanketed villages in the Afar region in ash.
• While no casualties have been reported so far, there is concern for livestock herders, as grazing lands have been affected.
• The remote and challenging terrain means field teams are not yet able to fully assess the long-term damage, so most information comes from satellite observations.

Why This Eruption Is Significant

• Hayli Gubbi has no confirmed eruptions in the Holocene (last ~12,000 years), making this a rare geological event.
• The eruption highlights how remote geological events can have wide-ranging effects, including cross-continental ash movement and aviation disruption.
• Because the area is extremely remote, satellite monitoring is the main tool for scientists and safety authorities, showing the importance of space-based observation.

What To Keep An Eye On Next

• How long the ash cloud will linger over or near India.
• Real-time air traffic disruptions - whether more flights are rerouted or cancelled.
• Any ash deposition on the ground in areas under the plume.
• Further volcanic monitoring, whether this eruption triggers continued or renewed activity in the Afar Rift.

Photo Credit: Oneindia

A volcano in a remote corner of Ethiopia has woken up after millennia, and its ash is reaching as far as Delhi. While the immediate air-quality risk on the ground is limited, aviation remains a serious concern, with flights cancelled and rerouted. This event is a clear proof of how natural forces in one part of the world can ripple across skies and borders, affecting people and systems thousands of kilometers away.