Eritrea Volcano: Eruption In Africa Forces Clinton To Cut Africa Trip Short, Threatens Flights In Middle East (VIDEO)

Another Volcano Threatens Air Traffic

Ash from a volcano erupting in the Eastern African country of Eritrea that threatens air traffic in the region has also forced Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to shorten her current visit to the continent.

Clinton was to have spent Monday night in Addis Ababa. But she will now leave the Ethiopian capital immediately because the ash cloud from the explosion in Eritrea is heading toward the city.

U.S. officials said the airport at Addis Ababa was to be closed. That meant Clinton faced being stranded if she had proceeded with her planned meetings in Ethiopia on Tuesday.

Ash clouds from the volcano, which began erupting early Monday morning, could reach as far as Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

A series of earthquakes -- ranging in magnitude from 4.5 to 5.7 -- struck the region Sunday evening local time.

Eritrea has a population of nearly 6 million people and borders Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

It's not yet clear which volcano is erupting. The Associated Press reports that the Dubbi volcano is spewing ash while Earthquake-Report.com says that the Nabro volcano has erupted.

Ash from a volcano in Chile forced the cancellation this weekend of dozens of flights in and out of New Zealand.

Watch a report on the Eritria volcano from Earthquake-Report.com:

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