Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Saturday, March 22, 2025 84° Today's Paper


Breaking News

Lava fountains stop after 7 hours in Kilauea’s summit caldera

1/2
Swipe or click to see more
Video by USGS
COURTESY USGS
                                This image from a U.S. Geological Survey webcam at Halemaumau crater shows lava fountains over 600 feet high in Kilauea’s summit caldera today.
2/2
Swipe or click to see more

COURTESY USGS

This image from a U.S. Geological Survey webcam at Halemaumau crater shows lava fountains over 600 feet high in Kilauea’s summit caldera today.

COURTESY USGS
                                This image from a U.S. Geological Survey webcam at Halemaumau crater shows lava fountains over 600 feet high in Kilauea’s summit caldera today.

Related Photo Gallery

Kilauea erupts again, then pauses, again

UPDATE: 3:45 p.m.

Lava fountaining within Kilauea’s summit caldera has stopped after just after 7 hours today.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that “episode 14” of the ongoing eruption ended at 1:49 p.m. when fountaining at the south vent stopped. Fountains from the north vent ceased 11 minutes earlier, scientists said.

Lava flows from the latest episode covered about 75% of the floor of Halemaumau within the southern part of the caldera, Kaluapele. Episode 14 lasted 28 hours and 23 minutes with the last 7 hours and 19 minutes consisting of fountains up to 600 feet high from the south vent, according to HVO.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Lava fountains reaching more than 600 feet high returned to the summit caldera of Kilauea today.

Scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that “episode 14” of the ongoing eruption began Wednesday morning with lava flow “effusion” from the north vent of Halemaumau crater. Sustained fountaining began today at 6:30 a.m. from the south vent and reached heights of 500 to 700 feet later in the morning.

The current on-again, off-again eruption began Dec. 13 with each episode of Halemaumau lava fountaining lasting for 13 hours to 8 days, and the episodes being separated by pauses in eruptive activity for less than 24 hours to 12 days, according to HVO.

Kilauea’s current eruption in Halemaumau crater within Kaluapele, the summit caldera, began on Dec. 23 and has remained within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, with no significant activity along Kilauea’s east and southwest rift zones.

Hazards from the eruption include vog, or volcanic smog, downwind of Kilauea, Pele’s hair and other volcanic fragments from lava fountains. Pele’s hair are strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining, according to HVO.


Vog information can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org Opens in a new tab.


By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.