For the first time in Pakistan, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued an emergency warning.
Ash clouds from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano have traveled thousands of kilometers and entered Pakistani airspace, posing potential risks to aviation safety.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending thick plumes of smoke and ash high into the sky for several hours.
The volcano lies in the geologically active Rift Valley, where tectonic plates meet and shift.
According to international monitoring centers, the ash plumes reached heights of up to 14 kilometers and drifted over Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan. Within Pakistan, the ash was detected 60 nautical miles southwest of Gwadar at an altitude of 45,000 feet.
The PMD clarified:
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Domestic flights generally operate at 34,000 to 36,000 feet,
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International flights fly at 40,000 to 45,000 feet, where aircraft engines could be affected by volcanic ash.
This is the first-ever warning issued by Pakistan regarding volcanic ash. The PMD is continuously monitoring the movement of the ash clouds. The agency confirmed that while the ash will pass over Karachi and other cities, it will remain high above the ground and will not affect life or property.
BREAKING: Significant Eruption Reported in Afar, Ethiopia 🌋
Urgent reports this morning indicate a significant volcanic explosion in the Afar region, either at Ali Bagu (Amaytole) or possibly Erta Ale itself. Early information suggests the eruption may be located between… pic.twitter.com/ChwmyT9vDZ
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) November 23, 2025
Latest tracking maps indicate the ash clouds will move over southern Sindh and continue northeast into India.
Videos circulating on social media show thick white smoke rising from the volcano, but these have not been independently verified.
Authorities in the Afar region have not released information on casualties or displaced people.
