HVO: Kilauea volcano is erupting
UPDATED 5:13 p.m.
Kilauea volcano is erupting again.
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At approximately 4:34 p.m. today, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in Kilauea summit webcam images indicating that the eruption has resumed within Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
HVO elevated Kilauea’s alert level from “Watch” to “Warning” as the eruption and associated hazards are evaluated.
HVO reported that webcam images shows fissures at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater are generating lava flows on the surface of the crater floor. The activity is confined to the crater at this time.
PREVIOUSLY
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has raised its volcano alert level for Kilauea from “Advisory” to “Watch” after an increase in seismic activity.
According to a statement today, HVO detected an increase in earthquake activity and a change in ground deformation patterns at Kilauea summit early this morning.
“At this time, it is not possible to say with certainty if this activity will lead to an eruption; the activity may remain below ground,” HVO reported. “However, an eruption in Kilauea’s summit region, within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and away from infrastructure, is one potential outcome.”
HVO previously decreased its alert level for Kilauea in mid-December after the volcano’s eruption at Halema‘uma‘u ceased after more than a year of activity. At the time, HVO Scientist-in-Charge Ken Hon said the Kilauea eruption could resume.
No changes have been reported at Mauna Loa, which briefly erupted over three weeks in November and December. That eruption also stopped in mid-December, but was deemed unlikely to resume again in the foreseeable future.
