The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in the Afar region of Ethiopia, reawakened on November 23, 2025 after almost 12,000 years of inactivity. The eruption produced a column of ash and gas that reached a height of approximately 14-15 km, creating a spectacle also visible from satellite images. The ash cloud, driven by winds at high altitude, pushed across the Red Sea until it reached Yemen and Oman, with sections also observed towards India and northern Pakistan.
Hayli Gubbi is a shield volcano, approximately 521 meters high, located along the African Rift Valley. It is a geologically dynamic area where the African, Arabian and Somali tectonic plates meet. Here the earth’s crust is slowly opening up, generating volcanic phenomena and continuous seismicity. Despite the “quiet” shape typical of shield volcanoes, these cones can generate sudden explosive eruptions, especially when the magma comes into contact with water or undergoes a rapid release of gas.
– Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano Awakens After 10,000 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… pic.twitter.com/bZby4sAuOC
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The Informant (@theinformant_x) November 24, 2025
No casualties but watch out for the ash
The eruption lasted several hours, but fortunately caused no victims or injuries. Local authorities confirmed that the area around the crater is uninhabited which reduced the risk to the population. Despite this, it remains under careful observation by geologists and meteorologists in the region. The ash fall could in fact create inconvenience for the villages and shepherd communities in the area.
The spectacular image of the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite
One of the most extraordinary aspects of this eruption was the satellite photography that captured the phenomenon in all its grandeur. The satellite Copernicus Sentinel-5P in fact resumed the gigantic column on November 24th sulfur dioxide (SOâ‚‚) and ash, extended for approx 3,700 km from Ethiopia to Arabian Sea, creating an image that seems almost unreal in its clarity.
The use of satellite imagery such as that of Copernicus Sentinel-5P is also essential for constant monitoring, not only for aviation safety but also for the study of air quality and climate. The details of the cloud, its contours and direction of dispersion offer scientists a valuable tool for monitoring volcanic emissions, predicting possible ash fallout and assessing risks to air traffic.
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