HONOLULU — Lava fountains at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii have surged to impressive heights of 600 feet (180 meters) during its recent eruption episode, which has been intermittently active for several months.
On Tuesday night, the lava fountains decreased in intensity, dropping between 250 feet (80 meters) to 300 feet (90 meters), as reported by the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. By Wednesday morning, live feeds from the area continued to show striking bursts of vibrant red lava and rising smoke.
This recent eruption commenced on December 23 at the summit of Kilauea, recognized as one of the globe’s most active volcanoes, located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
Tuesday represented the 12th eruption episode. The event began with sporadic small lava flows in the morning, which evolved into continuous fountaining by the afternoon. Initially, the lava fountains reached heights of 150 to 165 feet (45 to 60 meters) before intensifying later on.
Fortunately, no nearby residential areas are at risk from the eruption. Visitors have been drawn to lookouts within the park, eager to witness the spectacular volcanic display.
The duration of each fountaining episode has varied, lasting anywhere from several hours to several days, with breaks in activity ranging from less than 24 hours to as long as 12 days, according to the observatory.
