Kīlauea Volcano's Sneaky Eruption Triggers Monitoring and Closures in Hawaii

Early Monday morning, Kīlauea, Hawaii's second largest volcano, erupted through four fissures about 2.5 miles southwest of its caldera. The eruption, which started at approximately 12:30 a.m., posed no immediate threat to communities on the Big Island of Hawaii, according to officials.

Only one of the fissures, measuring slightly more than a half-mile long, remained active. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency downgraded the volcano's threat level from warning to watch, indicating an ongoing eruption with limited hazards.

The USGS compared the current eruption to a similar event in December 1974, which lasted for six hours and featured fissures with the same orientation. However, they noted that the current eruption could end without significant lava production.

Monitoring and Impact

The eruption took place within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Federal geologists have been closely monitoring the situation using various instruments, including seismometers, GPS monitors, tiltmeters, and gas detectors. The eruption was preceded by more than 400 small earthquakes, significant ground deformation, and elevated sulfur dioxide gas emission rates.

Following the increased seismic and deformation activity, the USGS raised Kīlauea’s alert level. As a precaution, several areas of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, including trails, campgrounds, and roads, have been closed to ensure public safety.

Kīlauea has a history of frequent eruptions, with continuous activity from 1983 to 2018. The volcano last erupted in September before the recent event.