Hawaii's Second-Largest Volcano Kilauea Erupts, USGS Raises Alert Levels

Jun 3, 2024, 03:30 PM

Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting early Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The eruption started at approximately 12:30 a.m. HST, about a mile south of Kilauea caldera and north of the Koa'e fault system and Hilina Pali Road, within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The USGS has turned a live webcam to face the new eruption site. Alert levels for the Island of Hawai'i have been raised to the highest categories. No communities are currently threatened by lava, although some areas may experience elevated gases. The eruption is taking place in an area that last erupted a half-century ago. The eruption can be observed from Volcano House in the National Park, and it has been described as 'insane' by witnesses. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) confirmed that all activity is within the national park. Kilauea is Hawaii's second-largest volcano.