Ancient Ethiopian Volcano Erupts After 10,000 Years: Massive Ash Cloud Impacts Regional Communities

The eruption of a dormant volcano in Ethiopia has created significant concerns for local herding communities while sending massive ash clouds across international borders.

Addis Ababa:

A volcano that had been dormant for thousands of years erupted in northern Ethiopia during the weekend, with its ash plume extending across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano located in Ethiopia's Afar region began erupting Sunday morning, resulting in the nearby village of Afdera becoming blanketed in volcanic dust.

Mohammed Seid, a local administrator, confirmed there were no human casualties from the event, though he expressed concern about potential economic impacts on the local livestock-herding community.

In his conversation with The Associated Press, Seid noted that there were no previous recorded eruptions of the Hayli Gubbi volcano, and he expressed significant concerns for residents' future livelihoods.

"Although no human lives or livestock have been lost thus far, numerous villages have been covered in ash, leaving animals with very little vegetation to consume," he explained.

⚠️ Ethiopia: The Hayli Gobi volcano erupted today for the first time in ten thousand years and sent ash up to a height of 15 km.🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/aiPVhhO4rr

— Dr. Fundji Benedict (@Fundji3) November 24, 2025

The eruption was also documented by France's Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center, which observed the activity through satellite imagery.

The Afar region is known for seismic activity, and local resident Ahmed Abdela described hearing a loud sound accompanied by what felt like a shock wave.

"The experience was similar to a sudden bomb explosion, complete with smoke and ash," he recounted.

As of Monday, the village near the tourist attraction of the Danakil desert remained covered in ash. Tourists and guides heading to the desert area found themselves stranded in the village, according to Abdela's account.

Local authorities have distributed photographs and video footage showing an impressive ash column rising from the volcano.