A previously inactive volcano in northern Ethiopia, Hayli Gubbi, erupted unexpectedly on Sunday, sending massive ash plumes across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman. Located in the seismically active Afar region, the eruption blanketed the nearby village of Afdera in dust, disrupting daily life and raising concerns about the economic impact on local livestock herders. Mohammed Seid, a local administrator, confirmed no casualties but expressed fears for the livelihoods of residents, whose animals now face food shortages due to the ash-covered grazing lands. Seid noted that this was the first recorded eruption of Hayli Gubbi, adding to the unpredictability of the situation. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in France confirmed the eruption through satellite imagery. Residents, including Ahmed Abdela, described the event as akin to a bomb explosion, with shock waves and dense smoke. The eruption also stranded tourists and guides in the village near the Danakil desert, a popular tourist destination, which remained covered in ash on Monday. Local authorities shared visuals of the towering ash plume, highlighting the scale of the event.