Karachi: Pakistan has issued its first-ever volcanic ash advisory after a massive eruption from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano sent ash plumes drifting toward the northern Arabian Sea, aviation authorities confirmed on Monday.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, satellite imagery detected volcanic ash nearly 60 nautical miles south of Gwadar, marking the first instance in the country’s history where an alert was triggered due to an international volcanic event. The ash cloud is currently positioned at an altitude of around 45,000 feet, well within commercial aviation routes.
Aviation safety experts warned that ash at such high levels can pose a serious threat to jet engines. Aviation analyst Anjum Nazir Zaigham noted that international aircraft typically cruise between 40,000 and 45,000 feet, which places them close to the hazardous zone. Domestic flights also operate at slightly lower altitudes but remain under monitoring.
However, officials assured that no air pollution, health risks, or visibility hazards exist for Karachi or other populated areas of Pakistan since the ash remains far offshore and elevated above normal breathing levels. Continuous tracking of wind patterns and plume movement is underway to safeguard flight operations.
The development follows the first recorded eruption in nearly 12,000 years from the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region, located roughly 800 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border. International monitoring agencies reported that the blast sent ash and smoke towering up to 14 kilometers (nine miles) into the atmosphere.
Ash clouds have since drifted across regions including Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, according to global volcanic advisory centers. Scientists highlight that Hayli Gubbi lies along the tectonically active Rift Valley, where major geological changes continue to reshape the region.
Authorities in Ethiopia have not yet released details regarding potential damage, evacuations, or casualties. Volcanologists say the eruption is historically significant, as there are no known Holocene-period eruptions recorded for the volcano until now.
Pakistan’s aviation and meteorological departments stressed that they will maintain a high-alert posture and issue immediate updates if the ash cloud shifts closer to national air routes.
