What's happened
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region erupted on Sunday, sending ash clouds across Yemen, Oman, India, and Pakistan. No casualties reported, but villages are covered in ash, affecting livestock and travel. The eruption is the first in 12,000 years, with ongoing regional impacts.
What's behind the headline?
The recent eruption of Hayli Gubbi highlights the risks posed by unmonitored, dormant volcanoes in tectonically active regions. Despite its lack of historical activity, the volcano's eruption caused regional travel disruptions and affected local communities' livelihoods. This event underscores the importance of expanding monitoring efforts beyond well-known volcanoes like Yellowstone or Mount Etna, especially in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, where many such 'sleeping' volcanoes exist. The global impact of ash clouds, including airspace closures and climate effects, demonstrates how regional geological events can have far-reaching consequences. The lack of prior records does not imply safety; it emphasizes the need for increased vigilance and investment in early warning systems to mitigate future risks.
What the papers say
Contrasting perspectives emerge between the UK volcanologist Mike Cassidy, who emphasizes the danger of unmonitored dormant volcanoes, and scientists like Erik Klemetti, who suggest Yellowstone's supervolcano is unlikely to erupt soon. Cassidy warns that many eruptions occur from volcanoes with no recent activity records, which are often overlooked due to human bias and focus on famous volcanoes. The New Arab, AP News, and The New York Times detail the recent eruption's regional impact, including flight cancellations and ash dispersal across multiple countries. These reports highlight the importance of regional monitoring and preparedness, contrasting with the limited attention given to less prominent volcanoes, which pose significant global risks.
How we got here
Hayli Gubbi, located in Ethiopia’s Afar Rift, had no recorded eruptions in the Holocene epoch, which began around 12,000 years ago. The region is tectonically active, with recent eruptions nearby, including Erta Ale in July. The eruption was detected via satellite and caused widespread ash dispersal across the Red Sea and into South Asia.
Go deeper
Common question
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What’s happening with the Ethiopian volcano and how does it affect air travel?
The recent eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has caught global attention. With ash clouds reaching high into the atmosphere and drifting over multiple countries, many are wondering what caused this eruption, how far the ash has spread, and what it means for air travel. Below, we answer the most common questions about this volcanic event and its wider impact.
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How Do Volcanic Eruptions Impact Global Air Travel?
Recent volcanic eruptions, like Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi eruption, have shown how natural disasters can disrupt air travel worldwide. When volcanoes spew ash into the atmosphere, they can cause widespread delays, cancellations, and safety concerns for airlines and passengers. Curious about how these eruptions affect flights and what measures are in place to keep travelers safe? Keep reading to find out more about the effects of volcanic ash clouds and how the aviation industry responds to these natural events.
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What caused the eruption of Hayli Gubbi volcano?
The recent eruption of Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano has caught the world's attention. As a rarely active volcano in the Afar region, its sudden eruption raises questions about what triggered this unexpected event. Understanding the causes helps us grasp the region's geological activity and potential future risks. Below, we explore the factors behind the eruption and what it means for the environment and local communities.
More on these topics
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Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the west and Sudan to
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The Afar Region (; Afar: Qafar Rakaakayak; Amharic: ዓፋር ክልል), formerly known as Region 2, is a regional state in northeastern Ethiopia and the homeland of the Afar people. Its capital is the planned city of Semera, which lies on the paved Awas
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.
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Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. Located in a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the country shares land borders with the United Arab E
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India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.
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Akasa Air is an upcoming Indian ultra low-cost carrier promoted by investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala who co-founded it alongside former Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube. It is expected to start operations in summer of 2022 with a fleet of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
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Air India is the flag carrier airline of India, headquartered at New Delhi. It is owned by Air India Limited, a government-owned enterprise, and operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving 102 domestic and international destinations.
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Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country with a population exceeding 212.2 million. It is the 33rd-largest country by area, spanning 881,913 square kilometres.