After lying dormant for ten millennia, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region has erupted, startling local populations and blanketing the nearby village of Afdera with ash. The eruption, which occurred Sunday morning, was described by those who experienced it as akin to a “sudden bomb” exploding, accompanied by an immense cloud of smoke and ash. Authorities have reported that while no lives have been lost, the widespread ashfall presents a considerable economic threat. Grazing areas for livestock have been covered, impacting the livelihoods of many. Furthermore, the volcanic ash plume has disrupted flight operations. Skies have darkened, forcing significant changes to flight schedules. Akasa Air, IndiGo, Air India, and international carriers have all announced flight cancellations and diversions for several days, specifically impacting flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, due to the dangerous airborne ash.
