Part of Overlook vent rim and wall collapses

Part of the rim and wall of the Overlook vent within Halemaumau Crater collapsed into the lava lake Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported Thursday.

The collapse, which occurred about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, resulted in rapid oscillation of the lava lake level and intense spattering, the scientists said, adding that an ashy plume was also generated by the event. Thereafter, the lake resumed its usual patterns of circulation and remained about 155 feet below the rim of the vent.

Wednesday’s collapse was the second time this week that a collapse has occurred at the Overlook vent within Halemaumau Crater. On Tuesday, a sliver of the north wall of the vent collapsed, also briefly disrupting the lake’s circulation.

Tiltmeters at the Kilauea Volcano summit continue to show neither inflation nor deflation Thursday. The equipment, which measures changes in the “tilt” or angle of the ground, has held steady since about Sunday, according to the observatory.

Seismicity rates beneath Kilauea’s summit continued within background values, with some bursts in seismic tremor recorded during periods of vigorous spattering within the vent, scientists said.

Seismicity rates at the East Rift Zone also remained at normal levels, the scientist said.

At the East Rift Zone eruption site, June 27 lava flows remained active within about 5 miles northeast of Puu Oo.

The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on March 25 downgraded its alert level for Kilauea Volcano from a “warning” to a “watch.”