Share and Follow
HONOLULU (AP) — On Tuesday, a spectacular eruption from a Hawaiian volcano sent lava jets soaring up to 1,000 feet (300 meters) into the air, leading to temporary shutdowns at a national park and a vital highway due to the falling volcanic debris, including ash.
Kilauea, situated on Hawaii’s Big Island, has been captivating locals and tourists alike with its recurring volcanic activity for over a year. The sporadic eruptions frequently launch dramatic lava displays skyward.
This latest eruption, which started Tuesday morning, marks the 43rd such event since December 2024. A live video feed captured two vibrant fountains of red-hot lava accompanied by plumes of smoke. The duration of this episode remains uncertain, as past eruptions have varied from a few hours to several days.
As in previous eruptions, the lava has remained contained within Kilauea’s summit crater located inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, posing no immediate threat to nearby residences or structures.
However, the lava display is causing issues for adjacent communities and a highway, as volcanic fragments and ash, collectively known as tephra, are falling from the sky. This has resulted in temporary closures at the national park near the summit and a partial closure of Highway 11, a critical thoroughfare encircling the island, on both sides of the park.
Hawaii County officials also opened a shelter at a district gymnasium for residents and tourists impacted by the road closure or falling tephra. There were no people using the shelter soon after it opened, said Tom Callis, a county spokesperson.
The National Weather Service issued an ashfall warning.
Volcanic tephra can irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system, according to county officials. Tephra also can clog and cause other problems with water catchment collection systems, which are common in some parts of the Big Island, officials said.
Ash fell so heavily during a previous fountaining episode that some communities needed help from county civil defense workers to clean up ash that coated their homes, Callis said.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.