Kilauea Shoots Over 1,000-Foot Lava Fountains, Closes Highway and Grounds Flights
Key Takeaways
- Lava fountains reached 1,000 feet high.
- Falling ash and glassy fragments closed a national park and part of a major highway.
- USGS raised the Volcano Alert Level to Warning and Aviation Color Code to Red.
Event overview
Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island produced dramatic lava fountains that reached roughly 1,000 feet during the latest episode, which marked the eruption’s 43rd since it began in December 2024; the event prompted temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of an important highway because of falling glassy volcanic fragments and ash.
“The latest lava fountaining episode of an erupting Hawaii volcano reached 1,000 feet high Tuesday, prompting temporary closures at a national park and part of an important highway because of falling glassy volcanic fragments, including ash”
This activity was captured on livestream and has continued to dazzle residents and visitors as part of an on‑and‑off eruption.
Scale and history
The eruption has produced episodes of varying scale and duration: some episodes have lasted hours while others have gone on for days.
Past activity has included exceptionally large lava output — one episode released just under 11 million cubic yards of lava, a volume CBS compared to filling an Olympic‑sized swimming pool every 5½ seconds.
Kilauea is also described by officials as one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Local impacts
Local disruptions included temporary closures around the summit and a partial shutdown of Highway 11 on either side of the park.
“HONOLULU — The latest lava fountaining episode of an erupting Hawaii volcano reached 1,000 feet high Tuesday, prompting temporary closures at a national park and part of an important highway because of falling glassy volcanic fragments, including ash”
Hawaii County opened a shelter at a district gymnasium for residents and tourists affected by road closures or falling tephra; one report said the shelter had no occupants soon after it opened.
One outlet also reported flight cancellations related to the episode.
Hazards and warnings
Authorities and forecasters warned about airborne volcanic fragments (tephra) and ash, with the National Weather Service issuing an ashfall warning and projecting accumulations over parts of the park.
Officials cautioned that tephra can irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system and can clog common water‑catchment systems on the island.
The falling glassy fragments — described in some accounts as including ash — were the principal reason for the park and road closures.
Ongoing uncertainty
The situation remained fluid: a livestream showed two fountains of bright‑red lava and smoke while reports emphasized that it was unclear how long the fountaining would last.
“Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Shoots Over 1,000 Feet of Lava into the Air, Prompting Highway Closure and Flight Cancellations The event marks the 43rd episode in the active volcano's ongoing eruption, which began on Dec”
Officials and reporters framed the event as part of an ongoing, intermittent eruption that began in late December 2024, and monitoring and advisories continued as authorities tracked ashfall and community impacts.
More on USA
KC-135 Crashes in Iraq After Apparent Midair Collision, Six Airmen Killed.
28 sources compared
FAA Orders Ground Stops at D.C.-Area Airports Over Strong Chemical Smell at Federal Aviation Facility
10 sources compared
FAA Lifts Ground Stops at DC-Area Airports After Equipment Outage and Chemical Smell
20 sources compared
Judge James Boasberg Blocks DOJ Criminal Probe of Federal Reserve, Deems It Trump Pressure Campaign
15 sources compared