Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano awakens after 12,000 years

In a stunning geological event, Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano—long dormant in the remote Danakil Depression of the Afar Rift—erupted explosively for the first time in recorded history on November 23, 2025.

The outburst, which began around 8:30 a.m. UTC, propelled a massive ash plume soaring up to 15 kilometers (about 50,000 feet) into the atmosphere, accompanied by significant sulfur dioxide emissions.

Located roughly 15 kilometers southeast of the perpetually active Erta Ale volcano, Hayli Gubbi’s awakening marks its initial eruption in the Holocene epoch, with no prior activity documented in the last 12,000 years.

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs captured the onset in near real-time, revealing a dramatic plume that quickly dispersed eastward over the Red Sea, affecting air quality in parts of Yemen, Oman, and even drifting toward Iran, Pakistan, and India.

As of the latest update from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) on November 23 evening, the eruption has ceased, with observed volcanic ash limited to 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).

No damage to communities or disruptions to air travel have been reported, thanks to the volcano’s isolated location in one of Earth’s most extreme environments.

Scientists continue to monitor the site for potential renewed activity, highlighting the dynamic tectonics of the Afar Rift, a key zone where the African, Arabian, and Somali plates are pulling apart.