A volcano in northern Ethiopia erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending a massive plume of ash high into the atmosphere and disrupting air travel patterns across Asia.
The volcano, known as Hillegi, is located in the Afar region. The eruption propelled volcanic smoke and ash approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) into the sky. Satellite imagery showed the plume traveling eastward across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman.
The immediate impact was felt in the neighboring village of Adera, which was left covered in a layer of volcanic dust. Local administrator Muhammad S confirmed there were no human casualties from the initial eruption. However, he expressed significant concern for the area’s economy, which is primarily dependent on livestock herding.
“The community is safe for now, but we fear the economic implications of this event,” Muhammad said. “The ash and dust pose a serious threat to our grazing lands and the health of our animals.”
The eruption’s far-reaching effects were documented by the Tuloo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. In a report issued on Monday evening, the center stated that the ash cloud had already traveled over northern India and was moving quickly towards China, prompting advisories for aircraft in the region.
Geological experts confirmed the historic nature of the event. There was no previous record of an eruption by the Hillegi volcano. Scientists stated that the volcano has had no known eruptions throughout the entire Holocene epoch, which began approximately 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, marking this as an event of significant scientific interest.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, with a focus on both the local impact on communities in the Afar region and the ongoing dispersal of the ash cloud across international airspace.