Kilauea volcano eruption resumes

Kilauea volcano is erupting again.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that at 4:34 p.m. Thursday, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observed a glow in Kilauea volcano’s summit webcam images indicating that the eruption has resumed within Halema‘uma‘u crater.

The activity was confined to Halema‘uma‘u within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and as of 8:09 p.m. Thursday, there were no indications of activity migrating out of the summit region.

Multiple minor fountains were active in the central eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor; the largest lava fountain was consistently 32 feet high, scientists said Thursday night. Fountain bursts up to 98 feet occurred around 7:45 p.m. and there were several bursts up to 164 feet during the initial part of the eruption.

Lava flows had inundated much of the crater floor, which is nearly 300 acres. As of approximately 7:30 p.m., about 32 feet depth of new lava had been added to the crater floor.

Following the eruption onset, summit earthquake activity greatly diminished and eruptive tremor (a signal associated with fluid movement) resumed. Summit tilt switched from inflation to deflation around 5 p.m.

Volcanic gas emissions in the eruption area are elevated, which means the likely return of vog, or volcanic smog, to West Hawaii areas in the coming days to weeks.

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It last erupted for 16 months starting in September 2021. For about two weeks starting Nov. 27, Hawaii had two volcanoes spewing lava side by side when Mauna Loa erupted for the first time in 38 years.

Both volcanoes stopped erupting at about the same time in mid-December, though scientists said they would wait several months before officially declaring the eruptions over.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.