The long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region erupted suddenly on 23 November, sending an ash plume up to 14 kilometres into the atmosphere and blanketing surrounding communities in thick volcanic debris. This marked the first confirmed activity of the volcano in roughly 12,000 years, prompting concern for local residents and drawing international attention from geologists and disaster-monitoring agencies.
The eruption caused extensive damage to villages near Afdera, where grazing land was scorched and livestock threatened, according to reporting from AP News. Although no casualties have been confirmed, humanitarian agencies have warned that herders and families already facing fragile conditions could suffer significant disruption and loss of livelihood.
