Kilauea, Hawaii’s most active volcano, erupted again this week, spewing explosive bursts of orange lava skyward for several hours at a time into Wednesday morning. It was the volcano’s ninth eruption since December, officials said.
Kilauea, Hawaii’s most active volcano, erupted again this week, spewing explosive bursts of orange lava skyward for several hours at a time into Wednesday morning. It was the volcano’s ninth eruption since December, officials said.
This eruption lasted 22 1/2 hours, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, at some points sending lava more than 300 feet into the air.
A livestream shared by the USGS showed the volcano erupting for several hours Tuesday and Wednesday. The nine eruptions at Kilauea since Dec. 23 have lasted from 14 hours to 8 1/2 days.
According to the agency, volcanic fragments and “high levels of volcanic” gas remain a concern, as they can move downwind toward residential areas. Homes are not in danger at the moment.
The eruption was within a closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Jessica Ferracane, a spokesperson for the park, said in an email that the eruption was “contained entirely” within the summit caldera of the volcano.
The closest people can get is within 1.5 miles of the eruption. For prospective tourists, who come in droves each year to view volcanic activity, the National Park Service recommends arriving early in the morning to avoid crowds and to find parking.
Kilauea is Hawaii’s youngest volcano, having first formed underwater 280,000 years ago, according to the park service. It has erupted on and off since 1983.
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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
