Ethiopian Volcano Eruption: No direct threat to Saudi Arabia

Jeddah: The eruption of the Haila Gobi volcano in Ethiopia will not have any direct or noticeable impact on Saudi Arabia’s atmosphere, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM).

NCM meteorologist Aqeel Al-Aqeel said in an interview with a local television channel that the center is monitoring the movement of ash clouds in the upper layers of the atmosphere. He added that if the volcanic particles affect aviation in any way, airlines will be issued specific warnings in advance.

Following the eruption, wind patterns pushed the volcanic ash toward the southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula, mainly influencing the upper atmosphere over Yemen. The dust clouds are currently concentrated along commercial flight routes.

The Haila Gobi volcano in Ethiopia erupted after about 10,000 years of dormancy, following a series of recent earthquakes. Experts confirmed that a massive cloud of carbon dioxide released during the eruption has spread across Ethiopia and neighboring countries due to prevailing winds.

The Saudi National Center for Meteorology stated that there is no cause for concern and that the situation continues to be closely monitored.