The US Geological Survey has confirmed that Kilauea volcano, located on the Pacific island of Hawaii, has an active eruption.
At 12 o’clock local time on Wednesday, increased earthquake activity was registered in the area. Three hours later, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory discovered that it was glowing in the Halemaumau crater, which is part of the Kilauea volcano.
It reports the Volcano Observatory in Hawaii (HVO) in a press release, reproduced by the US National Park Service.
It is an indication that an eruption has begun in Kilauea, the youngest and most active volcano on the island of Hawaii – and one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
– Dangerous outbreak imminent
The volcano’s danger level has now been raised from “follow” to “warning”, which means that a “dangerous eruption is imminent, in progress or suspected”, according to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
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For aviation activity in the area, the danger level “red” now applies, which means that one suspects or expects a dangerous eruption with a probability of high emissions of volcanic ash into the atmosphere.
The eruption should not be in an area where there are homes, according to Ken Hong, who is a researcher for the USGS and works for the volcanic observatory in Hawaii.
Eruption: The lava lake at the bottom of the Halemaumau crater in the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii cracks. Fountains of lava and columns of volcanic gas shoot up, reports the volcano observatory in Hawaii. PHOTO: USGS via AP
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– All indications are that the eruption will remain in the crater. We see no indication that the lava is moving to the lower part of the eastern rift zone, where people live. So far, all the activity is inside the park, Hong says according to AP News.
Rush of spectators
But authorities have said volcanic gas and thick volcanic smoke could be a problem, as the eruption sends up thick volcanic columns.
They also warn against rocks, tephra (pyroclastics) and so-called Pelé’s hair (thin strands of fiberglass) that can be thrown out of the crater, writes the local newspaper Hawaii News Now.
“Visitors should be aware that if there is no trade wind, ash falls and elevated concentrations of sulfur dioxide are possible in publicly accessible places,” the warning to the audience.
Races against “volcanic tourism”
According to Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane, there was “a rush of spectators” as early as Wednesday night.
They expect large numbers of spectators to flock to the park during Thursday to catch a glimpse of the eruption.
“We are excited, but we are also careful,” Ferracane told the newspaper.
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The Red Cross in Hawaii has also gone out on social media to reassure any concerned residents of Hawaii.
– There is currently NO THREAT to any homes or built-up areas on the Big Island, they write, adding:
– We will continue to monitor the incident and provide updates when necessary.
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Enormous changes
Surveillance images now show cracks at the root of the Halemaumau crater, which means that lava fountains again cover the bottom of the crater.
At the same time, clouds of volcanic gas shoot up into the air.
The volcano has undergone three huge changes over the past three years, according to US National Park Service (NPS).
For almost a decade, the bottom of the crater was covered by a lava lake.
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But in early May 2018, the crater began to crack and the lava was drained. As the magma had supported the walls of the crater, the Halemaumau crater began to collapse, NPS reports.
By the end of the eruption, the bottom of the crater had sunk by 488 meters, and the diameter of the crater was more than twice as large.
– Remarkable
In August 2019, a lake began to form at the bottom of the crater. For a period, the amount of water increased by several centimeters a day – and eventually became 49 meters deep.
– It was a remarkable change. In just one year, a persistent lava lake had disappeared in a dramatic collapse, only to be replaced by the first lake ever in Kilauea in modern times, writes NPS.
DRAMATIC: Aerial photo of the eruption in Halemaumau Crater, located in the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Photo: USGS via AP
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When Kilauea erupted in May 2018, 24 people were injured and 700 homes were destroyed. Before this eruption, the volcano had had an ongoing, slow eruption for 30 years, writes the local newspaper Honolulu Star Advertiser.
A minor outbreak began in December 2020 and continued until May this year. Lava fell into the lake, and the water evaporated in a short time. Again was a 180 meter deep lava lake, which was active until May this year.
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