#Middle East rift zone

Firefighters continue to suppress the 78-acre Makaopuhi Fire in the remote middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano south of Nāpau Crater inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. It is 70% contained and poses no threats to homes or structures.

The remote 78-acre Makaopuhi Fire was ignited by the Sept. 15 eruption of Kīlauea volcano. Fire activity has increased because of a lack of rainfall, low humidity and wind.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports “all observable and instrumental signs of potential for renewed eruptive activity have declined”; only a couple of intermittent small spots of residual glow could be detected on the flow field Sunday night and weak degassing continues.

Eruption that started Sunday night now paused after covering more than 156 acres of Nāpau Crater and areas to the west.

This eruption signals a significant and fascinating change in activity at Kīlauea.

Now in its fourth phase of vent opening and lava production, the current phase is the eruption’s largest to date. Fountaining remained strong at the new vent site as of just before 10:30 a.m. today as observed on the S2 webcam.

The eruption is located on a remote section of the middle East Rift Zone in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The eruption does not currently pose an immediate threat to human life or infrastructure.

According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the brief eruption occurred near the National Park Nāpau campsite (east of Kānenuiohamo and Makaopuhi Crater and west of Nāpau Crater) on the middle East Rift Zone between 9 and 10 p.m.

Seismic activity at Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone is still elevated but has continued at a decreased rate.

The current volcanic activity is within the national park boundaries and does not present a threat outside the park. and does not pose a threat outside of the park.

HVO continues to monitor unrest in the summit and Southwest Rift Zone regions of Kīlauea, with increased rates of earthquakes and ground deformation indicating magma is moving in the area