Over the weekend, the Kīlauea Volcano located on the southeastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii erupted once again, sending a towering lava fountain soaring to a height of 1,000 feet (about 300 meters) in what was a breathtaking display of nature’s power.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and has been sporadically erupting since December 23, 2024, at the Halemaʻumaʻu crater within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
This recent eruption marks the 23rd event since last December. The USGS reported that the eruption began at the northern crater around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday Hawaiian time, with the southern crater becoming active about an hour later.
The lava fountain from the northern crater reached heights exceeding 1,000 feet while the southern crater’s reached approximately 230 feet. The lava flow covered the entire floor of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and although the eruption was brief, its intensity was remarkable.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park noted that the activity initially involved low-frequency splatter and flames, with lava surges and small fountains beginning around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, predicting continued eruption throughout the weekend.
The USGS report stated that Kīlauea Volcano is “in a unique phase of activity at the Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with multiple occurrences of dual lava fountains since the eruption began.”
A Reddit user described the lava landscape of Hawaii, also known as the “Gateway to Hell,” as resembling twisted material.
USGS indicated that Kīlauea is currently in a “special stage,” with repeated occurrences of dual eruptions since the end of last year. The two craters located southwest of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater are still intermittently active, continuously creating new lava flows on the surface of the volcano.
In recent eruptions, the USGS observed significant underground pressure changes. Prior to lava surges, the surface tilt showed an “inflationary tilt” pattern, transitioning to a “deflationary tilt” as the lava was released, resulting in a sawtooth pattern of surface tilt records indicating cyclical fluctuations in underground pressure.
USGS highlighted the main hazards of volcanic eruptions, including high concentrations of volcanic gases that could react with the atmosphere downwind, creating visible hazes known as “vog.” The vog can affect humans, animals, and crops in the area.
Since 1983, Kīlauea has been consistently active and is one of the six active volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands. Alongside the world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, Kīlauea plays a significant role in the observation and study of volcanic activity.