A volcano that had remained inactive for decades erupted in northern Ethiopia over the weekend, releasing ash clouds that drifted across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, began erupting early Sunday, blanketing the nearby village of Afdera in ash.

Local administrator Mohammed Seid said there were no deaths or injuries, but the eruption could seriously affect the livelihoods of local livestock herders. He told The Associated Press that there is no known previous record of Hayli Gubbi erupting and expressed concern for the community’s future.

“So far no people or animals have been lost, but many villages are now covered in ash, leaving little for their livestock to eat,” he noted.

The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in France confirmed the eruption, reporting that satellite imagery showed significant activity.

Afar, an area known for frequent earthquakes, also experienced tremors. Resident Ahmed Abdela said he heard a loud blast followed by what felt like a shock wave.

“It was like a bomb suddenly went off, with smoke and ash everywhere,” he recalled.

By Monday, the village near the Danakil Desert—a popular tourist destination—was still coated in ash. Abdela said tourists and guides traveling to the desert were stranded there due to the conditions.

Local authorities posted photos and videos showing a massive column of ash rising from the volcano.