Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted on Thursday on Hawaii’s Big Island, sending bright lava fountains high into the sky and prompting the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
According to the United States Geological Survey, lava fountains began erupting from the volcano after 11 am local time. At times, the molten rock burst more than 200 meters into the air, marking a dramatic display from one of the island chain’s most closely watched volcanic sites.
By Thursday evening, the eruption was still active. A livestream camera showed plumes of smoke rising from the crater and lava flowing downslope as the episode continued to unfold.
The USGS said the eruption had produced 3.6 million cubic yards of lava so far. Kilauea’s activity is being monitored closely, as the volcano is known for frequent eruptions and ongoing volcanic change.
Located on the Big Island, Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its latest eruption once again drew attention to the power and volatility of Hawaii’s volcanic landscape.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was closed because of the eruption, as officials responded to conditions around the volcano and the surrounding area.
The eruption adds to Kilauea’s long record of activity and serves as a reminder of the hazards posed by volcanic events on the island. Monitoring continues as lava and smoke remain visible from the site.
