Ash cloud from Ethiopian volcano eruption reaches Delhi/ Several flights affected

2025-11-25 09:58:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ash cloud from Ethiopian volcano eruption reaches Delhi/ Several flights

The ash cloud caused by the eruption of a volcano in Ethiopia has crossed the Red Sea, passed Oman and Yemen and reached the Indian capital, Delhi.

The eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, which is reported to have been dormant for nearly 12,000 years, occurred on Sunday morning, sending a giant ash cloud thousands of meters into the atmosphere.

Several international and domestic flights have been cancelled, delayed or rerouted in India due to the ash, with the country's aviation regulator asking airlines to strictly avoid affected areas.

The level of pollution from the ash is unclear, experts said, but it is unlikely to affect Delhi's air quality, which was very poor according to official measurements on Tuesday.

Volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines, contaminate airfields and reduce visibility, making flight operations dangerous.

"The affected altitude is between 8.5 km and 15 km above sea level. It will temporarily affect satellite functions and flight operations. But it is unlikely to affect weather conditions or air quality. It reached north India last night and appears to be heading towards China ," said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

It is difficult to predict how long it will take for the ash to disperse, but the IMD estimates that Delhi's skies should clear by Tuesday evening.

Flight operations have been disrupted due to the ash, with Air India cancelling 11 flights, while carriers such as IndiGo, Akasa Air and KLM are also said to be affected. Mumbai airport has asked passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.

Volcanic ash clouds are rare. But when Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in 2010, it caused global travel chaos. The UK and European airspace was closed or partially closed, leading to the worst disruption to air travel since World War II. /CNA