VIDEO: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports lava fountain heights up to 82 feet high following Sunday’s eruption

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Sunday evening the Kīlauea volcano is still erupting with multiple minor fountains active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea’s summit caldera.

Kīlauea volcano began erupting at approximately 3:15 p.m. this afternoon.

The line of fissures stretches approximately 0.8 miles, from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block.

Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 65-82 feet high. 

Lava erupted from fissures on the downdropped block is flowing in a westward direction towards Halema‘uma‘u crater, the eastern portion of which is covered with actively flowing lava. The laser rangefinder is aimed at a western portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater, not near the new eruptive activity, and recorded less than 3 feet of new lava added to that portion of the crater floor. An estimate of effusion rate will be provided after an overflight of the new eruption site tomorrow morning.

According to the recent update, eruptive activity is confined to the area and no unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

Summit tilt switched from inflation to deflation shortly after the eruption onset today. Summit earthquake activity greatly diminished following the eruption onset and was replaced by continuous eruptive tremor (a signal associated with fluid movement). Volcanic gas emissions in the eruption area are elevated; between 4 and 5 p.m. today, HVO staff measured preliminary sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates of up to 100,000 tonnes per day or more. 

Kīlauea’s volcano alert level and aviation color code will remain at a red (warning) as hazards associated with the eruption onset are evaluated overnight.  

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More Information about the eruption activity can be found below:

• 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
• A live-stream video of the eruption is available at https://www.youtube.com/usgs/live.
• Kīlauea summit webcam views are available at https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit-webcams.