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Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Erupts, Spewing Lava and Hazardous Gases

Dec 24, 2024, 06:33 AM

On December 23, 2024, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting on the Big Island within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The eruption commenced at approximately 2:20 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), following elevated earthquake activity reported by the National Park Service beneath Kilauea's summit around 2:00 a.m. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory observed eruptive activity through webcams, noting lava flowing from vents on the west part of the caldera wall and confirming lava fountains reaching heights of up to 80 meters (260 feet), with some reports indicating fountains exceeding 200 feet. The eruption is producing hazardous volcanic gases that "present a risk to everyone," according to the National Park Service. Although there are currently no immediate threats to nearby residents or infrastructure, authorities advise caution due to very high emission rates of volcanic gases.