ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) has confirmed that the country’s airspace and atmosphere remain unaffected by ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted this week for the first time in recorded history.
The ash plume, initially detected at high altitude over the Arabian Sea, is now moving eastward toward India and China.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia—described by regional media as a “silent” volcano that last erupted approximately 12,000 years ago—sent ash clouds up to 14 kilometres (45,000 feet) into the atmosphere on Sunday. Satellite images showed the plume drifting across the Red Sea toward South Asia.
According to PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir, the volcanic ash was observed at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday at 45,000 feet south of Gwadar. The plume passed over Sindh province via the Arabian Sea but “had no effects on the land of Sindh,” he said.
He added that Pakistan’s northern areas and overall atmospheric conditions would not be impacted due to the ash’s high altitude.
According to the PMD, Pakistan, Oman, and Yemen were clear of volcanic ash as of Tuesday morning.
Ash Spreads Across Northern India, Expected to Move Toward China
India’s Meteorological Department reported that ash-related effects were observed as far as Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana.
The agency said ash clouds were moving northeast and were expected to exit Indian airspace by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday before continuing toward China.
The eruption has prompted operational disruptions for airlines. Air India cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday to conduct precautionary inspections on aircraft that had flown through affected regions. Akasa Air also suspended several Middle East–bound flights to destinations including Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.
Although ash clouds have spread across parts of the region, the PMD emphasized that Pakistan’s air quality, atmosphere, and aviation operations remain unaffected.
