Ethiopia volcano ash drifts toward China, disrupts flights in India

Ash clouds from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano continued drifting eastwards on Tuesday, moving towards China after affecting large parts of northern and western India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told PTI. The volcanic ash, which had spread across multiple Indian states on Monday, is expected to clear Indian airspace by 7:30 pm.

The IMD said forecast models had indicated ash influence over Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. “High-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India,” the agency said.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Erta Ale Range, erupted explosively on Sunday around 8:30 am UTC, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC). The long-dormant volcano, believed to have last erupted 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, sent a massive ash plume high into the atmosphere, enabling winds to transport it across continents.

The eruption was described as “massive and explosive”, with ash columns rising to significant altitudes, prompting multiple VAAC bulletins and global aviation alerts. Continuous satellite monitoring showed rapid eastward dispersion, influenced by strong upper-level winds.

The ash cloud forced several airlines to cancel or reroute flights on Monday, affecting operations across multiple airports. India’s Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata issued ICAO-compliant SIGMET alerts, warning airlines of hazardous flight levels and recommending avoidance of affected airspace.

These advisories guided pilots and operators on alternative routes, expected flight-level changes, and necessary adjustments to fuel calculations. Aviation authorities said flights may continue to face longer travel times, rerouting, or holding patterns until the ash disperses completely.

A thick haze enveloped Delhi on Monday and Tuesday, as the capital’s air quality dipped further into the ‘very poor’ category. Though local emissions remain the dominant cause, officials warned that the volcanic ash could marginally worsen conditions.

Delhi recorded an AQI of 360 on Tuesday morning, following Monday’s reading of 382. Rohini reported a ‘severe’ AQI of 416. CPCB forecasts indicate that the overall air quality is likely to remain ‘very poor’ in the coming days.

Meanwhile, winter chill deepened in the city, with the minimum temperature dropping to 9°C two degrees below normal and the maximum expected to reach 27°C amid mist and moderate fog.

The IMD said it is closely tracking satellite imagery, global VAAC advisories, and dispersion models to assess the ash movement. The agency confirmed that the plume is steadily shifting eastwards and will clear Indian skies by evening.

With the ash cloud now drifting toward China, regional aviation bodies across Asia are expected to remain on alert.