Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano erupted on Sunday in the volcano’s eastern rift zone. Aerial photos show smoke from Monday’s eruption.
HAWAI’I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii – Following a recent eruption in the East Rift Zone of the Hawaiian volcano Kilauea, the US Geological Survey has issued a warning.
According to the USGS, the eruption began on Sunday and intensified between 4 and 5 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
The warning level is “Orange/Watch”, indicating that the volcano is currently erupting but poses only limited danger.
Sunday’s eruption occurred in a remote, closed-off area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. A 1,600-foot-wide fissure opened near Nāpau Crater. Two lava pools totaling about 4 acres were observed along the fissure on Sunday, according to the USGS.
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Eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, pictured on Tuesday morning.
(USGS)
On Monday, the USGS flew out to observe the eruption from the sky, and video shows smoke rising from an area of burned trees and freshly erupted lava.
There is currently no immediate threat to life or infrastructure, USGS officials said.
According to the USGS, Kilauea has been affected by two periods of unrest since July, with hundreds of earthquakes occurring daily in the upper eastern rift zone.
