Volcanic hazards temporarily close Kīlauea Summit within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Park rangers are evacuating visitors from the Kīlauea Summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as it is temporarily closed due to hazardous amounts of volcanic rock, ash and glass particles falling over the summit.

Highway 11 is closed between mile markers 24 and 40 due to dangerous road conditions.

Kīlauea began to erupt at 9:17 a.m. on Tuesday. Lava fountains that reached as high as 1,300 feet earlier are producing large amounts of tephra, and light and variable winds are causing the material to fall over the summit, on the highway and in nearby communities, according to a news release from the park.

Tephra (volcanic rock, ash and glass particles) was continuing to fall at 2 p.m.

Park officials were unsure of how many people were being evacuated from the summit, however, with a cruise ship visiting the island today, officials estimated hundreds, maybe a few thousand people were in the park when the tephra started to fall.

Overnight guests of Kīlauea Military Camp and Volcano House with reservations and identification will be allowed to enter the park, but must shelter in place, park officials stated in the news release. All trails and outdoor overlooks in the vicinity of the summit are closed.

The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued a volcano warning (RED) at 10:54 a.m. Although light and airy, tephra chunks can cause abrasions and irritate eyes and breathing.

Tephra fallout covers road markings and causes vehicles to skid and slide, officials stated.

The park will reopen after the eruption ends and park staff can clear roadways and other areas of tephra. A temporary flight restriction is in place.

Check the park website at www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes for updates.