Volcanic action suspected in Nigeria as Eritrean volcanic ash cloud threatens air travel

Volcanic action suspected in Nigeria as Eritrean volcanic ash cloud threatens air travel

Timothy Choji, Gombe, with agency report

GOMBE ROCK

The inhabitants of Danejam village in the Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State, North East Nigeria are living in fear of possible volcanic action following the incessant emission of smoke from a rock in the area.

Voice of Nigeria’s North East Correspondent,Timothy Choji joined curious sight-seers to inspect a portion of a rocky range in the area continuously emitting smoke.

According to residents, the smoke was first discovered about three weeks ago by herdsmen, who said they started seeing it about six months ago.

The Manager of the Nigerian Metrological Agency in Gombe State, Mr Emmanuel Abasi confirmed the development.

Mr Abasi said the smoke was the aftermath of an action that had already taken place inside the crust but advised strongly that people residing around the area should be relocated and the area be monitored closely.

Eritrea volcano

Meanwhile, a long-dormant volcano has erupted in Eritrea, spewing a huge ash cloud across the Horn of Africa and threatening air travel.

Reports say the volcano erupted for a third day on Tuesday but with reduced intensity; its ash cloud spreading out over Sudan and towards Saudi Arabia and forcing the cancellation of some regional flights.

The Nabro volcano began belching plumes of ash at about midnight on Sunday after a string of earthquakes.
Scientists initially wrongly identified the source of the eruption in the region close to the Ethiopian border as the nearby Dubbi volcano.

Impact

Dubai's Emirates airline said it was cancelling its flight transiting through the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday due to airspace restrictions around Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Airlines officials told Reuters they had cancelled flights to the Sudanese capital Khartoum, neighbouring Djibouti, as well as several domestic flights to Ethiopia's north.
 
Kenya Airways said it had cancelled a flight from Addis Ababa to Djibouti but that otherwise all its flights were operating as usual.
 Satellite images on the France-based Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre's (VAAC) website showed the cloud heading toward Saudi Arabia while the images suggested Sudanese airspace could also be affected.
 
Under control

The online Earthquake-Report also said the intensity of the eruptions appeared to be subsiding.

"Based on the data from VAAC, we can clearly see that the eruption is winding down. There is some remaining activity as ash clouds are still (being) blown in the atmosphere (up to) an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,096 metres)," Earthquake-Report said.

No casualties

Authorities in Ethiopia and Eritrea reported that there has been no casualty around the volcano.

It was hard to verify these reports because of the difficulty accessing the arid region.

US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton cut short her stay in Africa by a day on Monday for fear of being stranded by the ash cloud.

REUTERS/Shakira/Ekata