Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is erupting, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the eruption began at 2 a.m. local time on Monday, elevating Kilauea’s volcano alert system to the highest warning levels within a closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
“The opening phases of eruptions are dynamic,” the USGS said.
At approximately 2 a.m. local time on December 23, increased earthquake activity was detected beneath the summit of Kīlauea. By 2:30 a.m., the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) confirmed eruptive activity through summit webcam images, indicating that an eruption had begun within Halemaʻumaʻu and the summit caldera in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
In response, the HVO has raised Kīlauea’s volcano alert level from ADVISORY to WARNING and the aviation color code from YELLOW to RED as they continue to assess the eruption and associated hazards.
The initial stages of eruptions are often unpredictable. Webcam footage reveals a series of fissures producing lava fountains and flows at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu within Kaluapele (the summit caldera). Currently, the activity remains confined to the summit caldera, and hazard evaluations will be updated as the situation develops.
