The situation persisted for 18 to 20 hours before beginning to stabilize, the effects never reaching land, the spokesperson says.
A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it floats over the Red Sea. PHOTO: NASA/Handout via REUTERS
Pakistan does not face any threat of air pollution from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Tuesday, assuring that the ash cloud remains confined to high altitudes and does not pose any risk to public health in the country.
PMD deputy director and spokesperson Anjum Nazir Zaigham said the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano, reported by the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), had sent huge plumes into the upper atmosphere after it erupted on Sunday for the first time in almost 12,000 years.
In response, the PMD issued an aviation surveillance alert, warning that domestic flights operating at around 35,000 feet and international flights operating between 40,000 and 45,000 feet could face engine hazards due to the ash cloud. Authorities, he added, were actively monitoring his trajectory.
Issuing a detailed statement on Tuesday, Zaigham said the volcanic plume initially moved eastwards, spreading over Oman, Yemen and the Arabian Sea before spreading towards southern Pakistan and India.
BREAKING: Significant eruption reported in Afar, Ethiopia 🌋
Urgent reports this morning indicate a major volcanic explosion in the Afar region, either at Ali Bagu (Amaytole) or possibly Erta Ale itself. Preliminary information suggests that the eruption may be located between… pic.twitter.com/ChwmyT9vDZ
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) November 23, 2025
The PMD issued three consecutive volcanic ash advisories (VAAs) – the first time in Pakistan’s history that multiple advisories were issued in a row – after receiving a mid-flight report from an aircraft south of Gwadar, approximately 60 nautical miles away.
He said the situation persisted for almost 18 to 20 hours before conditions began to stabilize. The volcanic remains, however, were detected only in the upper atmosphere at about 45,000 feet or higher, he added.
“These effects never reached the ground,” Zaigham said, adding: “With wind speeds of around 20 kilometers per hour, the plume has now dissipated. It is completely incorrect to suggest that Pakistan’s airspace could become contaminated.”
He reiterated that the skies over Pakistan are now “completely clear”, noting that any air quality concerns would only arise if an eruption occurred in a country located closer to Pakistan. Zaigham reaffirmed that there is no possibility of air pollution from the Ethiopian eruption.
