Saudi Arabia has initiated comprehensive atmospheric monitoring following the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, which sent volcanic ash plumes soaring up to 14 kilometers into the sky. The eruption, the first in 12,000 years, has caused ash clouds to drift over Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, raising concerns about air quality and aviation safety across the region. The Kingdom’s meteorology center confirmed that no direct impact on Saudi Arabia’s atmosphere has been detected so far. Meanwhile, Oman’s Environment Authority issued an advisory regarding potential air quality degradation, though monitoring stations have yet to record increased pollutant levels. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued safety advisories to airlines, urging them to avoid affected regions and altitudes. An Abu Dhabi-bound Indigo flight was diverted to Ahmedabad due to the ash. Airlines have been instructed to adjust flight planning, monitor updates, and report any ash encounters. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, erupted for several hours on Sunday, marking a rare geological event in the Rift Valley, a hotspot for tectonic activity. The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program noted that this is the first recorded eruption of Hayli Gubbi in the Holocene epoch.