World in Alarm as vulkaanuitbarsting ethiopië Sparks Ash Cloud, Grounding Flights, and Prompting Emergency Aid

A volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted with startling intensity on Monday, sending a towering ash plume that drifted over towns and air routes across the Horn. By afternoon the plume had climbed to estimated altitudes between 8,000 and 12,000 meters, prompting civil aviation authorities to suspend flights at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport and to issue temporary airspace restrictions for portions of nearby airways.

Airlines reported dozens of cancellations and diversions as ash swirled through popular corridors, forcing pilots to reroute toward Djibouti, Nairobi, and Cairo. Airports in several towns reported ash deposits on runways and roadways, delaying shipments of essential supplies and complicating rescue efforts in communities closest to the eruption site.

Residents described a gray veil covering streets, with ash rain spattering across schools and markets. Health workers warned of respiratory irritation and urged people to stay indoors, wear masks, and protect vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. In rural areas, farmers faced damaged crops and disrupted water supplies as ash contaminated wells and rivers.

Governments and international aid groups activated emergency response plans. Local disaster agencies coordinated with humanitarian partners to pre-position tents, clean water kits, and medical supplies, while monitoring the risk of further ash emissions and possible lava activity. Volunteers worked to clear ash from rooftops and to distribute protective gear, food rations, and hygiene kits to affected families.

Analysts say the eruption highlights the fragility of regional air travel and the importance of rapid mobilization for disaster response. Officials stressed that while aviation disruptions ripple globally, the immediate focus remains on safeguarding health, providing shelter, and delivering relief to hundreds of people whose lives are upended as the ash cloud settles.

World in Alarm as vulkaanuitbarsting ethiopië Sparks Ash Cloud, Grounding Flights, and Prompting Emergency Aid

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