Kīlauea eruption on Big Island has paused after 12 days

The summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano on the Big island has paused, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in a press release Monday night.

Eruptive activity — which has been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within the summit caldera at Kīlauea — rapidly declined this afternoon around 4 p.m.

No unusual activity has been noted along the volcano’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

There was a rapid decline in lava fountaining and effusion at the eruptive vent on the southwest side of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Vent activity had been vigorous up to that point in the day.

Circulation of the southwestern lava lake slowed thereafter, and the lake’s surface dropped by several meters. Some previously erupted lava continues to flow on the crater floor.

This may continue over the coming hours and days while the lava proceeds to cool. 

A live-stream video of the crater is available at https://www.youtube.com/usgs/live.

Also at about 4 p.m. and simultaneous with the decline in vent activity, seismic tremor — a signal resulting from subsurface fluid movement, and commonly associated with eruptive activity — started dropping.

Tiltmeters in the summit region detected a quick transition to inflationary tilt after tracking steady deflationary tilt since the morning of June 17.

This eruption of Kīlauea began on June 7, and it was spectacular to see in its early days. It was contained in the crater and never a threat to property.

This eruption also lasted much shorter than the previous one earlier this year that lasted 61 days.

Should volcanic activity change significantly a new status report will be issued. Regularly scheduled updates are posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates.

More Information:

• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Kīlauea activity summary also available by phone: 808-967-8862
• Kīlauea webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams
• Kīlauea photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/photo-and-video-chronology
• Kīlauea lava-flow maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/maps
• Kīlauea FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/faqs
• Kīlauea hazards discussion: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards