Ethiopia's Volcanic Mountain Blasts for First Time in 12,000 Years
An volcano in northeastern the Ethiopian region has exploded for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending dense plumes of ash up to 9 miles (14km) into the atmosphere, according to volcanological observers.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, situated in the Afar region of Ethiopia about 500 miles north-east of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, burst forth on the past Sunday for a number of hours.
This volcano, which rises about 500 metres in altitude, sits within the Rift Valley, a zone of intense geological activity where two continental plates meet.
Ash clouds from the eruption traveled over the nation of Yemen, Oman's airspace, India and northern Pakistan, observation sources indicated.
A satellite image depicting volcanic debris from the Hayli Gubbi eruption in Ethiopia.
In videos shared on social media, a thick column of pale ash could be seen rising, though confirmation was not immediately available.
Global volcanism programs noted that Hayli Gubbi has had no recorded eruptions during the Holocene, which started about 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.
A volcanic expert affirmed on a social platform that Hayli Gubbi “has no record of eruptions in the Holocene”.
Regional officials have yet to responded regarding potential casualties or the count of evacuees.
