USGS: “This photo of the ongoing eruption in the Kīlauea rift zone in the Middle East was taken during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter flyover on the morning of September 17, 2024. This low-angle view looking southwest shows three lava fountains; the tallest is about 10 meters (30 feet) high. The dark black lava covering the floor of Nāpau Crater erupted within the 12-14 hours prior to the capture of this photo at 8:09 a.m. HST. An older lava wall is visible in the lower left of the photo.” (USGS photo by N. Deligne)

(BIVN) – Lava flows cover the floor of Nāpau crater as the new eruption in the central east rift zone of Kīlauea volcano has entered a third phase of activity.

The USGS volcano alert level for Kīlauea remains at “WATCH” with the aviation color code ORANGE.

New helicopter video from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory shows new fissures erupting just west of and within Nāpau Crater on Tuesday morning.

The eruption occurred in a cordoned-off and remote area of ​​Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Officials say there is no immediate threat to life or infrastructure.

This third phase follows two start-stop episodes in the same area of ​​the volcano. This latest, intense activity began in the darkness of the morning, between 4 and 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Scientists were on site at dawn, recording videos for the observatory’s website and social media channels. On the left is a map created using the data collected and thermal images. On the right is a video the scientists shared on Facebook.

USGS: “A helicopter flyover on September 17, 2024, enabled the acquisition of visual and thermal aerial images of the central east rift zone eruption site at Kīlauea. Eruptive activity continues, with active fountains in Nāpau Crater and lava flowing on the crater floor, marking an eastward shift in activity compared to September 15. The heat map scale ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicating lower temperatures and red colors indicating warmer temperatures.”

They also examined the erupted lava and quenched their samples in water to preserve the geochemistry for later analysis.

Due to ongoing eruption activity, the Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains closed to all use.

The observatory said this was the first eruption in the Nāpau crater area since 1997. Fissure eruptions lasting several days are not unusual, and it is currently difficult to say how long the eruptive activity may continue.

Inclinometers indicate a constant flow of magma from Kilauea’s summit to the eruption site. As long as magma continues to flow into the Middle East rift zone, eruptive activity is likely to continue.