A volcano in Ethiopia’s northeastern region erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending thick plumes of smoke up to 14km into the sky, the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) said.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region about 800km northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, erupted on Sunday (November 23, 2025) for several hours.

The volcano, which rises about 500m in altitude, sits within the Rift Valley, a zone of intense geological activity where two tectonic plates meet.

Ash clouds from the volcano drifted over Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, the VAAC said.

In videos shared on social media, which AFP could not immediately verify, a thick column of white smoke can be seen rising.

The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program said Hayli Gubbi has had no known eruptions during the Holocene, which began around 12,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age.

Simon Carn, a volcanologist and professor at the Michigan Technological University, confirmed on Bluesky that Hayli Gubbi “has no record of Holocene eruptions”.

Afar authorities have not yet responded to AFP inquiries about possible casualties or the number of displaced people.

India is bracing for potential disruption to air travel with volcanic ash from Sunday’s (November 23, 2025) eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano forecasted to drift towards mainland India.

The DGCA has issued advisories urging airlines to strictly steer clear of affected altitudes and regions to ensure flight safety.

Airlines have also been advised to report any suspected impact of ash on engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke or odour.

Airports too have been told to inspect runways for contamination and suspended or restrict flight operations, if need be.

Large plumes of smoke continue to be visible over Ethiopia though the volcano eruption has stopped. According to volcanic ash advisory, clouds of ash have travelled over Yemen and Oman. Forecasts indicate that they could travel over north western and central parts of India under less than 12 hours.