12,000 years From Ethiopia’s dormant Haly Gubbi volcano suddenly erupted and now it has raised concerns in many countries. According to available information, the thick layer of ash rising from the volcano has spread several thousands of kilometers away and its effect is being seen in India, Pakistan, Yemen and Oman. Many international flights had to be canceled or diverted due to this ash.
It is noteworthy that Haly Gubbi volcano is located in the Rift Valley area, where geological movement always persists due to the meeting of two tectonic plates. Let us tell you that the volcanic eruption started at around 1:30 pm Indian time on Sunday, after which the cloud of smoke and ash reached a height of about 14 kilometers.
According to the Toulouse VAAC, the eruption may have stopped, but the huge plume of ash is still moving towards northern India, due to which weather and aviation agencies are continuously monitoring its direction. There is also information that this volcano is located in the Erta Ale mountain range and its last eruption took place about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.
Airlines like IndiGo, Akasa Air and KLM have had to cancel many of their flights due to the ash cloud. Meanwhile, India’s aviation regulator DGCA has advised airlines to avoid the affected areas and make necessary changes in flight planning, routes and fuel management.
Air India has informed that none of their flights have been affected so far, however they are continuously monitoring the situation. SpiceJet has also said that volcanic ash may affect some international routes and advised passengers traveling to Dubai to check their flight status. Both Akasa Air and IndiGo have stated that safety is a top priority and that they are constantly monitoring the situation and necessary steps are being taken as per the guidelines.
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has also issued an advisory for passengers. The airport said the explosion in Ethiopia may impact some international flights and passengers should check with their airlines before leaving for the airport.