A dramatic event unfolded recently in northeastern Ethiopia: the Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on 23 November 2025, marking its first confirmed eruption in what appears to be millennia.
Scientists say there is no record of any eruption during the Holocene — the current geological epoch that began about 12,000 years ago — making this event exceptionally rare.
The Shocking Awakening
The Hayli Gubbi volcano lies in the East African Rift Valley, specifically within the volcanic chain known as the Erta Ale Range. The region is tectonically active, yet this particular volcano had remained silent.
According to the volcano’s publicly available record, there was no known eruption for all of the Holocene, as reported by The Guardian.
On the morning of November 23, satellite monitoring and ground observations confirmed a powerful eruption.
The explosive event sent thick ash and smoke high into the sky, with plumes reaching more than 14 kilometers altitude. Locals described the experience as “like a sudden bomb,” with the shock wave and sound startling many.
Impact on Local Communities
The eruption blanketed nearby villages in ash, particularly affecting the village of Afdera — a settlement inhabited largely by pastoralist and livestock-herding communities.
Although authorities have not reported any human casualties or deaths among livestock, the fallout is already visible: grazing lands have been covered in ash, severely reducing the animals’ available food supply.
Local leaders warn this could threaten the livelihoods of herding families. The broader environmental fallout remains to be fully assessed. Ash fall can contaminate water sources and degrade soil-quality, possibly leading to longer-term challenges for agriculture and grazing.
The remoteness and harsh terrain make thorough assessment difficult, but scientists and local officials are urging close monitoring.
An Ash Cloud Crossing Continents
The eruption did not remain a strictly local concern. High-altitude winds carried the ash plume across the Red Sea toward Arabia, and further onward toward regions in the Middle East and South Asia.
Countries such as Yemen, Oman, India, and Pakistan reported ash drifting through their airspace.
Because volcanic ash can pose serious risks to aircraft — damaging engines and reducing visibility — several airlines suspended or cancelled flights along affected air corridors. Aviation authorities in multiple countries issued advisories and rerouted flights accordingly.
Scientists Are Paying Attention
The reawakening of Hayli Gubbi is significant for geologists and volcanologists studying the East African Rift system.
The fact that a volcano with no prior eruptions in the known record has suddenly erupted underscores the unpredictability of volcanic dormancy. It serves as a reminder that even long-silent volcanoes can become active, especially in tectonically dynamic regions.
The event may prompt renewed scientific interest in the Erta Ale volcanic chain and the broader Rift Valley zone.
Researchers will likely conduct field studies — where feasible — to assess potential magma movement, gas emissions, and any signs of further unrest. Understanding the triggers of this eruption could offer crucial insights for future hazard assessments.
Looking Ahead
For now, local officials emphasize that there have been no fatalities, but the livelihoods of many remain at risk, particularly those of livestock herders whose animals may struggle without fresh pasture.
The economic and environmental consequences may unfold over months or even years. More broadly, the eruption raises concern about air quality, water contamination, and disruption to communities in remote areas.
Given the ash drift across borders, international coordination may be needed to monitor and respond to potential health and aviation impacts.
Finally, the event highlights a global truth: in areas along tectonic boundaries, geological quiet can end abruptly and dramatically.
As the world watches the aftermath of Hayli Gubbi’s eruption, scientists are reminded that Earth’s subterranean forces remain potent — often beyond our expectations.
