A volcano named Hayli Gubbi in northern Ethiopia erupted on 23 November 2025 for the first time in about 10,000 years. The powerful eruption sent thick clouds of ash and smoke high into the sky, surprising scientists and locals alike.
Nearby villages were covered in ash, which settled on farms and grazing areas. This has made life difficult for farmers and herders, although no injuries or deaths have been reported.
The ash cloud was so large that it was seen from space. It drifted across the Red Sea and reached faraway countries including Yemen, Oman, Pakistan and India.
Some flights in India were delayed or cancelled as airlines checked if planes had flown through ash-covered airspace.
Scientists believe the volcano had been dormant for thousands of years, but it erupted when changes occurred deep underground. This shows that even very old volcanoes can become active again.
