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HONOLULU – One of the most active volcanoes on earth erupts on Hawaii’s Big Island.
US Geological Survey officials confirmed Wednesday that an eruption has started in Kilauea’s Halemaumau crater at the top of the volcano.
The eruption is not in an area of ​​houses and is entirely contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The volcano’s alert level has been raised to “Warning” and the aviation code has been changed to red.
Officials said early Wednesday that increased earthquake activity and ground swelling had been detected, and raised the alert levels accordingly at the time.
Kilauea had a major outbreak in 2018 that destroyed numerous homes and displaced thousands of residents. Before this eruption, the volcano had erupted slowly for decades, but not in residential areas. The same area of ​​the volcano that began to erupt on Wednesday erupted in December and lasted until May.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane told The Associated Press that she had not yet arrived at the park, but that colleagues reported seeing lava splashes and glowing in the summit crater.
“He saw this from the Volcano House, which is at least 2 miles from the site of the eruption, so I’m guessing … we’ll see a nice glow, and who knows what else,” she said.
The Volcano House is a hotel and restaurant in the national park next to the visitor center. The park is open to visitors.
Ferracane said the area that is erupting is nowhere near where people can hike or drive. Downwind trails from the eruption have been closed for years.
“The park is open and there are currently no road closures,” said Ferracane.
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