Volcano Ash Misses Pakistan, Moves Toward India, China

News Desk

Karachi: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday confirmed that the country’s airspace remains clear and its atmosphere unaffected by volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted for the first time in 12,000 years.

The eruption sent ash clouds up to 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) into the air on Sunday, according to international media reports. PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir told Geo News that volcanic ash was detected at 10am south of Gwadar at an altitude of 45,000 feet, but it passed over Sindh via the Arabian Sea without impacting land.

Nazir said the ash had already drifted toward India and was expected to move further into Rajasthan. “Pakistan’s airspace is clear, and as of this morning, areas of Oman, Yemen and Pakistan have also cleared,” he noted.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/ethiopian-eruption-sends-ash-across-region-reaches-pakistan/

He added that the ash—located at very high altitude—posed no threat to Pakistan’s northern areas, atmosphere, or air quality. He also explained that volcanic ash is not visible on standard satellite imagery.

Ash Cloud Reaches India, Now Moving Toward China

India’s Meteorological Department reported that ash from the eruption was observed as far as Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. The ash clouds are expected to drift toward China and exit India by 7:30pm on Tuesday.

Indian airlines have begun precautionary measures. Air India cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday to conduct safety checks on aircraft that may have flown through affected air corridors. Low-cost carrier Akasa Air also suspended flights to Middle Eastern destinations including Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi during the two-day period.

The rare “silent volcano” eruption has sent ash drifting across regional airspaces, but Pakistan’s Met Office maintains that the country’s land, atmosphere, and air quality remain unaffected.