• Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts after lying dormant for 12,000 years.
• The eruption sent vast ash plumes affecting air travel in several regions.
• No casualties reported, but local livestock communities face economic challenges.
• Eyewitnesses described the eruption as extremely powerful, likening it to a bomb.
• Airlines in India and UAE canceled flights due to ash clouds.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia's northeastern Afar region erupted after remaining dormant for approximately 12,000 years, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program. This unexpected eruption occurred on a Sunday morning and produced massive ash plumes reaching up to 15 kilometers (about 9 miles) into the atmosphere, prompting concerns among local residents and authorities regarding the potential impacts of the ash drift, which spread across Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, as reported by aa and aljazeera.

Eyewitness accounts describe the event as explosive, with a local resident stating it felt “like a sudden bomb had been thrown,” highlighting the eruption's powerful shockwave that rattled windows and shocked the community. Local official Mohammed Seid confirmed that while there were no reported injuries or deaths, the eruption could severely impact livestock herders in the region whose grazing lands are now covered in ash, according to reports from indiatimes and indiatimes.

Significantly, the eruption disrupted air traffic, leading several airlines in India to cancel flights due to dangerous ash clouds that pose risks to aircraft engines and visibility. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India advised airlines to avoid affected altitudes, and reports indicated that the ash had already reached various Indian states, as stated by aljazeera and aljazeera.

The geological activity of the Hayli Gubbi volcano is particularly noteworthy as it belongs to the East African Rift Valley, a region characterized by tectonic shifts and known for its volcanic history. Arianna Soldati, a volcanologist, remarked on the rarity yet unpredictability of dormant volcanoes awakening, underscoring that their potential for future eruptions can never be entirely dismissed, according to indiatimes and indiatimes.

Local authorities continue to assess the situation, with an emphasis on monitoring the impact of the ash on air quality and the livelihoods of communities affected by the ash fall. The extraordinary nature of this eruption has raised further questions about the geological capabilities of this under-researched volcanic region, according to findings by the Smithsonian Institution and observations captured by local media, as mentioned in articles from aa and aljazeera.