Source: IE
Event Overview
- Volcano: Hayli Gubbi, Afar region, northeastern Ethiopia
- Location: Afar Triangle, part of the East African Rift System, a tectonically active zone
- Eruption Date: 23 November 2025 (first eruption in 12,000+ years)
- Impact:
- Massive ash cloud travelled across the Red Sea and South Asia
- Several flights in India were diverted or delayed due to ash plume
- No reported casualties; high-altitude ash had minimal ground-level air impact
Reason for the Eruption
- Occurs due to magma rising from the asthenosphere, a weaker zone in the mantle beneath the Earth’s crust
- Gas pressure buildup in magma (mainly nitrogen and sulphur compounds) forces molten rock upward through cracks or fissures
- Hayli Gubbi’s eruption is linked to the tectonic activity of the East African Rift, where the African Plate is slowly splitting
About Volcanic Eruptions
- Definition: Expulsion of gases, rock fragments, and molten lava from inside the Earth through vents or fissures
- Magma Source: Originates in the asthenosphere, a weaker zone of the Earth’s mantle beneath the crust
- Trigger: Dissolved gases in magma expand, increasing pressure and forcing magma upward
Key Eruption Materials
- Lava: Molten rock that reaches the surface
- Pyroclastic debris: Fragmented volcanic rock
- Volcanic bombs: Large rocks ejected from the volcano
- Ash and dust: Fine particles carried by wind
- Gases: Nitrogen and sulphur compounds
Recent Global Eruption Examples
- Sabancaya, Peru (2025)
- Ruang, Indonesia (2025)
- Kilauea, USA (2024)
- Etna, Italy (2025)
Major Consequences of Volcanic Eruptions
Positive Impacts
- Provides direct insights into Earth’s interior
- Source of geothermal energy
- Temporary atmospheric cooling due to aerosols
Negative Impacts
- Air pollution and acid rain
- Seismic disturbances leading to earthquakes
- Loss of life and property in nearby areas
