An volcanic peak in north-eastern the Ethiopian region has exploded for the initial occasion in approximately 12,000 years, sending thick columns of ash as high as 9 miles (14km) into the atmosphere, according to volcanic observers.
The Hayli Gubbi, situated in the Afar region of Ethiopia about 500 miles northeast of the capital Addis Ababa near the border with Eritrea, erupted on the past Sunday for several hours.
This volcanic structure, which rises about 500 metres in elevation, resides within the Great Rift Valley, a area of intense geological movement where two continental plates meet.
Ash clouds from the eruption drifted over Yemen, Oman, the Indian subcontinent and Pakistan's northern areas, monitoring sources indicated.
A satellite image depicting ash from the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption in the country.
In videos shared on online platforms, a heavy plume of pale ash could be seen ascending, though verification was not immediately available.
International volcanism programs noted that Hayli Gubbi has had no known outbursts during the Holocene, which started about 12,000 years ago at the end of the most recent glacial period.
A volcanologist affirmed on a social platform that Hayli Gubbi “has no record of Holocene eruptions”.
Local authorities have yet to issued a statement regarding potential injuries or the number of displaced people.
