Kilauea volcano erupts with 500-foot lava fountains

The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has entered its 54th eruptive episode, characterized by significant lava fountaining within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Activity began with low-intensity spattering before intensifying into lava fountains that reached heights of up to 500 feet (approximately 150 meters).

The eruption produced a plume reaching 17,000 feet above sea level. Officials from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) noted that the effusive flow peaked at approximately 220 cubic meters per second, with an estimated 4.0 million cubic meters of lava emitted. The lava has covered nearly 30% of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.

The National Weather Service and Hawaii County Civil Defense have issued advisories due to wind patterns blowing volcanic material and gas toward the southwest. Residents in the Kau District, including communities such as Pahala, Wood Valley, Naalehu, and Ocean View, may experience ash fallout and tephra. Authorities have warned that ash can act as a respiratory and eye irritant, and tephra may reduce visibility on roadways.