MUSCAT : The eruption created a large ash plume that drifted eastward towards neighbouring countries, including Yemen and Oman, prompting an advisory from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC).

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, situated in the Afar Rift southeast of the Erta Ale range, began erupting at roughly 8:30 a.m. UTC. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center reported that the blast produced sustained explosive activity for several hours, with ash reaching an estimated altitude of 45,000 feet (13.7 kilometers). By late afternoon, officials said the eruption appeared to have subsided.

The initial alert was triggered by the independent monitoring group GeologyHub, whose analysts observed a rapidly expanding plume and notified authorities. Confirmation quickly followed as satellite imagery and ground reports aligned.

Forecast maps released Sunday showed ash at lower levels drifting toward Djibouti and Yemen, while higher-altitude material was projected to move eastward over Oman and out across the Arabian Sea.
Some of the uppermost ash was expected to continue farther northeast toward Iran, Pakistan, and India.

Despite the region’s reputation as one of East Africa’s most volcanically active zones, volcanologists note that Hayli Gubbi has shown no signs of erupting during the entire Holocene epoch. Simon Carn, a leading expert on volcanic emissions, emphasized that this event marks the volcano’s first known activity in at least 10,000 years.

As of Sunday evening, there were no confirmed disruptions to air travel or impacts on nearby communities.

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