Hayli Gubbi? Videos Showing Major Volcanic Eruptions Are Not From Ethiopia, But Indonesia And Hawaii

As news of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupting spread across the region, triggering flight disruptions and drawing global attention, two dramatic videos also began flooding social media. Shared with warnings about ash clouds reaching multiple Indian states, the clips quickly went viral.

However, Newschecker found that neither video showed the Ethiopia volcanic eruption at all.

The archived versions of the posts can be seen here and here. Volcanic activity at the long-dormant volcano in northern Ethiopia’s Afar region eased on Tuesday (November 25), two days after its weekend eruption sent ash plumes across the region, reportedly up to 14 km (8.7 miles) into the sky, disrupting high-altitude flight corridors and triggering widespread cancellations.

Evidence

Newschecker noticed that the viral videos did not match with the official footage of the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, raising our doubts on their authenticity.

Video 1

A reverse image search of keyframes led to:

• An X post dated November 19, 2025, which predates the Ethiopia eruption and features the same visuals.
• A Facebook post reiterating that Mount Semeru in Java erupted on November 19, 2025.
• A Sun report, dated the same day, detailing how Semeru sent an ash plume 54,000 ft high.

These findings establish that the first video is from Indonesia, not Ethiopia.

Video 2

A reverse image search for the second clip revealed:

• An X post from October 28, 2025 showing similar visuals and identifying the volcano as Kilauea.
• An Instagram post (November 19, 2025) describing a dramatic eruption at Kilauea in Hawaii, with lava fountains reaching 1,500 feet.
• Another Instagram reel confirming a November 9, 2025, multi-hour eruption event at the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.
• An Euronews report (November 25, 2025) noting that Kilauea has been erupting intermittently since late last year, with activity confined safely within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Thus, the second video is also unrelated to Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption.

Also Read: Heartwarming Story Of Mumbai Police Reuniting 4-Year-Old Girl With Parents Shared With AI-Generated Photo

Verdict

The viral videos are misleading. Neither clip shows the Hayli Gubbi eruption in Ethiopia. One video is from Indonesia’s Mount Semeru, and the other is from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano. The visuals have been incorrectly linked to the Ethiopia event and the ash cloud impact over India.

FAQs

1. Do the viral videos show the Ethiopia Hayli Gubbi eruption?
No. Both videos are misattributed and come from Indonesia and Hawaii.

2. How do fact-checkers verify volcanic eruption videos?
Through reverse image searches, cross-checking with official footage, satellite data, and credible news outlets.

Sources
Afar Communications, Facebook Page, Official footage (Nov 2025)
The Sun, Semeru eruption report (Nov 19, 2025)
Euronews, Kilauea ongoing activity (Nov 25, 2025)
Instagram post, Kilauea eruption footage (Nov 19, 2025)
X post, Mount Semeru video (Nov 19, 2025)
(inputs from Vijayalakshmi Balasubramaniyan, Newschecker Tamil)