Kilauea volcano erupts again, creating spectacular glow

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) - After a three-month pause, Kilauea volcano started erupting again at Halemaumau Crater early Wednesday, sending up lava fountains at the summit as high as 200 feet.

At around 4:45 a.m., webcam images showed a glow at the summit, indicating that an eruption had begun. Moments later, images showed fissures at the base of the crater, generating lava flows on the surface of the crater flow.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said by about 4 p.m., 32 feet of new lava had been added to the crater floor. While fountain heights were decreasing, geologists were still seeing some that topped 30 feet.

Officials stressed that the activity is confined to Halemaumau and does not pose a threat to the public. Hazards will be reassessed as the eruption continues.

Officials are concerned about the potential for vog and ashfall. The National Weather Service said “very light ashfall” was a possibility for Puna, Kau and South Kona districts.

The observatory has raised the volcano alert level for Kilauea from “watch/orange” to “red/warning.”

Scientists said it started Tuesday evening, citing increased earthquake activity and ground deformation at the summit and indicating the movement of magma in the subsurface.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will continue to closely monitor the situation.

The most recent eruption at Kilauea’s summit began on Jan. 5 and lasted for 61 days.

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