State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 25 Nov 2025

Hayli Gubbi Volcano

Why in News?

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has erupted explosively, sending high-altitude ash plumes thousands of metres up, some of which have drifted into Indian airspace, triggering aviation advisories. 

Key Points

• Hayli Gubbi volcano is located in Afar, northeastern Ethiopia, within the Danakil Depression - one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth.
• The current eruption is significant because the volcano is believed to have erupted after nearly 12,000 years, based on geological evidence from the Afar Rift.
• The Hayli Gubbi eruption highlights the geological volatility of the East African Rift System (EARS) where active volcanism, fissure eruptions, and spreading ridges are common.
  • It is one of the world’s most tectonically active rift systems where the Arabian, Nubian, and Somali plates are diverging.
• The region is characterised by basaltic lava, fissure systems, and frequent seismic activity linked to the continental rifting process.

Volcanic Ash & Aviation Risks

• Volcanic ash is made of tiny, abrasive particles of rock and glass that can melt inside jet engines and cause serious damage.
• Jet engines can stall when ash melts and re-solidifies on turbine blades.