Stunning footage gives a close-up view of the eruption of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii
FILE: This is footage of lava spewing from the vents of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii during its last eruption in September 2023.
Kilauea, Hawaii Kilauea volcano in Hawaii appears to be waking up from its slumber with increased seismic activity over the weekend.
The US Geological Survey noted in its volcano update that “an eruption may occur in the future without warning.”
The alert level remains “yellow,” meaning the volcano is showing signs of unrest above known background activity. During the past two days, the region witnessed 132 earthquakes.
“Kīlauea Peak remains under pressure; in recent months unrest has escalated rapidly,” the USGS reported. “The Kīlauea Summit area remains at a high level of inflation.”
Scientists say nearly 75% of the United States could be hit by a devastating earthquake
FILE: Tourists hike Halema'umau Crater on Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Big island. Hawaii in 2015. Halema'umau Crater is a crater located within the much larger summit caldera of Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The circular crater floor measures approximately 2,530 feet by 2,950 feet. (Sergi Reboredo/Volkswagen Images/Global Images Collection)
The high level of inflation is due to repressurization of the magma reservoir at the summit. This has been going on since the last eruption in September 2023. As magma flows into the reservoir emptied by the eruption, pressure increases and the ground is pushed up and deformed.
Although the volcano is not erupting, volcanic gas is escaping. Earthquakes can also trigger rockfalls. Authorities have closed part of Volcano National Park to the public out of caution.
“Volcanic gas levels (sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide) can remain locally hazardous even when Kilauea is not erupting. Local concentrations of sulfur dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide may persist in downwind areas, and residents may notice odors of these gases from “Once in a while.” The US Geological Survey explained. “There also remain significant risks around Halema‘umau from crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockslides that could be enhanced by earthquakes.”
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File: This is the Halema'uma'u Overlook area. This is the home of Pele, the volcano goddess who some Hawaiians still revere and place flowers in her honor. Sulfur gases continue to escape even when the volcano is not erupting. (Serge Reboredo/Volkswagen Pictures/Global Image Group/Getty Images)
Native Hawaiians call Halema'umau Crater on Kilauea the home of Pele, the volcano goddess. Hawaiian tradition requires travelers to ask Pele for permission to travel through the lands she created and destroyed, according to the National Park Service.
The mountain is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth and has produced Intermittent lava cycles since September 29, 2021. Kilauea is the most active and youngest volcano on the island of Hawaii. The NPS states that Kilauea translates to “to spew” or “to spread a lot.”
The underwater volcano formed about 280 thousand years ago. A shield volcano forms the surface roughly the same size as Oahu, the most populous of the Hawaiian islands.
A devastating eruption in 2018
Heavy rains caused devastating Kilauea volcano eruption in 2018, study suggests
FILE: Lava from the fissure of Kilauea Volcano advances down a residential street in Leilani Estates, on the Big Island of Hawaii, on May 27, 2018 in Pahoa, Hawaii. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The volcano is located more than 100 miles from Honolulu, which has a population of about 350,000 people. The 2018 volcanic eruption destroyed more than 700 homes and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
The last time a large ring of lava was seen coming from the volcano was in September. Video captured a stunning lava fountain emerging from the craterBut the effects were limited to the national park.
