By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-23 13:56:40 | Updated at 2024-12-25 17:28:23
2 days ago
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano began erupting early Monday morning, with a webcam capturing lava gushing to the surface.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued a 'code red' at 7:41am ET after detecting elevated earthquake activity beneath the summit.
Footage of the 'dynamic eruption' showed a line of fissures erupting lava fountains feeding lava flows at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu within Kaluapele (the summit caldera).
'The activity is confined to the summit caldera and the hazards will be reassessed as the eruption progresses,' the USGS said in an announcement.
Scientists had warned of an imminent eruption after Kilauea saw a boost in seismic activity last week, with about 100 small earthquakes detected at it the volcano's base.
There was continued swelling on the ground around the summit, and seismic activity suggested it was due to magma flowing through the underground chambers.
Located in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes.
The last time the Kilauea volcano erupted was in June, which also followed a swarm of small earthquakes.
This is a developing story... More updates to come.
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano began erupting early Monday morning, with a webcam capture lava gushing to the surface
'Elevated earthquake activity beneath the summit began at approximately 2 a.m. HST (7am ET) this morning, December 23,' the USGS alert reads.
'By 2:30 a.m., the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory observed eruptive activity in Kīlauea summit webcam images, indicating that an eruption has commenced within Halemaʻumaʻu and the summit caldera in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.'
The Kilauea volcano was formed underwater around 280,000 years ago, and it is the youngest and most active volcano in Hawaii according to the National Park Service (NPS).
Hawaiian residents have believed this volcano to be the home of the volcanic deity Pelehonuamea, which is a name for the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire.
Kilauea volcano has erupted more than 60 times since its creation in the 1800s, and the effects of its eruptions are the same.
The eruptions release high levels of volcanic gas, which is primarily made up of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide being released into the atmosphere.
