Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting early Monday in a remote area and then paused about 12 hours later, the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
The eruption was about 1 mile south of the Kīlauea caldera, in an area within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that last erupted in December 1974. The area surrounding the caldera has been closed to the public since 2008 because of other hazards, including ground cracking, instability in the crater wall and rockfalls.
"Glow is visible in webcam imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures," the USGS observatory said. The eruption in 1974 only lasted about six hours.
The recent eruption took place in a remote location within the national park and didn't pose an immediate threat to people or critical infrastructure, the observatory said.
Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth said residents are accustomed to eruptions happening within the park. “People just need to realize this is in one of the safety places it could have happened,” he said. “Absolutely no property in danger.”
Typically the primary hazard during Kīlauea eruptions is volcanic gas, which reacts with the atmosphere to create volcanic smog, or "vog." The vog can present health hazards for residents and visitors, damage plants and affect livestock, the observatory said.
“The only thing that I’m a little worried about right now is air quality,” Roth said. He said the communities of Ocean View and Nāʻālehu may experience some air-quality issues.
The observatory logged roughly 250 earthquakes beneath the Kīlauea summit in the hours before the eruption began. The observatory said it would issue updates on the eruption daily, as well as whenever there are significant changes in volcanic activity.
The national park has already reported an influx of visitors eager to view any of the action. Park spokesperson Jessica Ferracane said she expects crowds to continue trickling into the park even though the eruption paused.
"On Tuesday, we have a cruise ship that comes into Hilo, so it'll be even more crowded. And then on top of that, we have a lot of construction happening in the park right now with traffic safety upgrades at the entrance, we have the deconstruction of Jaggar Museum happening, and the USGS facility," she said.
"So we have reduced parking in a lot of these areas, like Kīlauea Visitor Center and the former Jaggar site. Keep in mind the park is open 24 hours a day. So if you're hoping to get a glimpse of the glow, maybe come at an unusual time, like after 8 p.m. or before sunrise to try to get those views," Ferracane added.
She said the park is opening an overflow parking lot near the Kīlauea Military Camp ball field for extra nighttime viewing.
Park officials have temporarily closed the Kaʻū Desert area of the park due to eruption hazards, including Hilina Pali Road, Maunaiki Trail, and backcountry campgrounds.
