One of the most active volcanoes on Earth, Kīlauea is the youngest volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii and a central feature of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (Video from May 2023)
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – Alert levels have been raised in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after the Kīlauea volcano began erupting early Monday morning in an area that has not seen an eruption in nearly 50 years.
According to an alert from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), the volcano alert level for ground hazards has been increased from watch to warning, and the aviation color code has been changed from orange to red after the new eruption started around 12:30 p.m. 6:00 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. ET).
Heavy rains triggered destructive KILAUEA volcano eruption in 2018, study finds
Lava continued to escape Thursday from the vents of the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii after an eruption began Sunday afternoon, according to the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. (Video from September 2023)
Scientists say the eruption likely began about a mile south of the Kīlauea caldera and north of the Koa’e fault system and Hilina Pali Road in the national park.
A glow was spotted on webcams in the area, telling scientists that lava was flowing from fissures in an area that had not erupted since December 1974.
This eruption only lasted six hours, but scientists caution that there is no way to tell how long the current eruption will last.
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE A VOLCANO ERUPTS?
Stunning new video released by the USGS shows areas of hot, rapidly swirling air grabbing fresh lava spewing from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano and throwing it into the air. (Video from June 2023)
HVO said it would continue to closely monitor Kilauea for any signs of increasing or decreasing activity and provide updates.
Hazards associated with the current eruption include the release of toxic volcanic gases, which can have far-reaching effects downwind.
Additionally, vog has been observed downwind of Kīlauea and could create airborne health hazards for residents and visitors to the area, as well as cause damage to crops and other plants and injury to animals.