Volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption has drifted toward multiple countries, prompting DGCA to instruct Indian airlines to avoid ash-affected airspace and altitudes.

About Hayli Gubbi volcano

• The Hayli Gubbi volcano is a shield volcano in Afar, Ethiopia, and a member of the Erta Ale Range.
  • The Erta Ale Range is a volcanic chain in Ethiopia’s Afar Region, part of the East African Rift System where tectonic plates are pulling apart

• Recent Eruption: It erupted in 2025 sending massive ash plumes across East Africa and beyond.
  • The eruption sent ash plumes up to 14 km into the atmosphere.

Reasons of recent eruption

• Rifting-driven magma buildup: Movement of the African and Arabian plates widened the East African Rift, allowing hot mantle material to rise and slowly recharge magma beneath Hayli Gubbi.
• Pressure from gas-rich magma: Long-term accumulation of basaltic to silica-rich magma increased pressure, with trapped gases leading to an explosive release.
• Crustal faults opening a pathway: New fractures likely opened a conduit to the surface, triggering the sudden eruption after 12,000 years of dormancy.

About Ethiopia

• Ethiopia is a landlocked East African country covering 1,104,300 sq. km, known for its ancient history and diverse landscapes.
• It borders with six countries:
  • Eritrea (north), Djibouti (northeast), Somalia (east), Kenya (south), South Sudan (west) and Sudan (northwest)
• The country has one of Africa’s most rugged and complex topographies, consisting of:
  • Rift Valley
  • Western & Eastern Highlands
  • Western & Eastern Lowlands
• The North Central massifs host Ethiopia’s highest peak, Mount Ras Dejen (4,533 m).
• Lake Tana, the largest lake, lies at about 1,800 m altitude.
• The Western Lowlands lie along Sudan’s border with elevations around 1,000 m, drained by rivers like the Blue Nile and Baro.
• The Afar Depression houses the Kobar Sink (125 m), one of the lowest points in Africa.

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