The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia recently became the center of global attention when it erupted for the first time in almost 12,000 years. This powerful eruption sent huge clouds of ash high into the sky, surprising both scientists and local residents.
Hayli Gubbi is located in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia, approximately 500 miles (800 km) from Addis Ababa and near the Eritrean border. The volcano rises around 500 meters in height and is situated within the Rift Valley, a significant geological zone characterized by the slow movement of two tectonic plates apart. This area experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
For thousands of years, Hayli Gubbi was considered inactive. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program and other experts, there had been no known record of any eruptions during the Holocene, which encompasses the last 12,000 years. Thus, the sudden eruption in 2025 took scientists by surprise.
On a Sunday in November 2025, Hayli Gubbi erupted for several hours, producing massive clouds of ash that rose up to 9 miles (14 km) into the atmosphere. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre reported that the ash spread across the Red Sea, affecting Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan.
Fortunately, local officials confirmed that there were no deaths or injuries. However, several villages were covered in ash. As many residents are livestock herders, the ash-covered land raised concerns about food availability for their animals, impacting their future income and survival.
Some residents reported hearing a loud explosion-like sound and feeling a shock wave. One individual described the experience as feeling “like a sudden bomb had been thrown,” followed by thick smoke and ash billowing into the air. Videos shared online depicted a strong white plume rising from the volcano, although some of these could not be independently verified.
Volcanologists confirmed that Hayli Gubbi had no previous documented eruptions in thousands of years. Experts, including Simon Carn from Michigan Technological University, supported this finding, emphasizing that the volcano had recorded no activity during the Holocene.
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