US Geological Survey cameras captured Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano spewing flowing lava from its crater during an eruption over the weekend, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Monday, and warned another lava-fountaining episode is likely.
The activity was observed from fixed monitoring cameras inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, in a section of the park that remains closed to the public. Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has been erupting intermittently since Dec. 23, 2024.
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Video released by the observatory showed incandescent lava pouring and pooling within the crater before advancing in visible streams. The observatory said the pattern of activity — sudden periods of lava fountaining followed by quieter intervals — suggests additional short-lived fountaining events could occur.
HVO personnel continue to monitor seismic activity, gas emissions and ground deformation as part of routine surveillance. The observatory uses camera feeds, seismic networks and gas sensors to track changes that could signal shifts in eruptive behavior. Officials have not reported any injuries or new property damage associated with the weekend activity.
The eruption is confined to the closed crater area within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, limiting direct impacts on communities. Nonetheless, eruptions at Kilauea can produce lava flows, volcanic gas emissions and localized ash, hazards that prompted park managers to maintain the access restrictions that have been in place since the current eruptive period began.
Local authorities and the USGS typically coordinate public advisories when activity escalates or when hazards extend beyond the closed zones. In past Kilauea episodes, officials have advised residents and visitors to avoid downwind areas during elevated gas emissions and to heed park closures and road restrictions.
The current eruptive sequence, which began late last year, forms part of Kilauea’s long history of frequent activity. Scientists say the volcano’s frequent, often low-to-moderate eruptions allow researchers to observe processes that shape volcanic systems and to refine forecasting tools, even as they pose persistent safety and access challenges for the national park and surrounding communities.
Visitors planning travel to Hawaiʻi Island are advised to check the National Park Service and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory websites for the latest information on closures and hazard notifications. Park officials have repeatedly stressed that closed areas are intended to protect public safety and to allow scientists to carry out monitoring without interference.
For now, the USGS HVO statement leaves open the possibility of further visible fountaining from the crater in the coming days, with scientists keeping round-the-clock observation until the eruptive pattern stabilizes or ends.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
