Hawaiis Kilauea Volcano Spews Lava From Western Fissure As Eruption Continues

These images show the Kilauea volcano with lava fountains spewing hot magma as its eruption continues.

This latest footage was shared by the US Geological Survey (USGS) who said: "Low lava fountains near the southeast edge of the main island in the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, during the ongoing Kilauea summit eruption. One of the small (less than 5 metres or 16 feet) fountains has built a cone on the edge of the island.

"Occasional spatter is visibly ejected from the vent at the top of the cone while the main fountain is directed laterally onto the lava lake surface from within the grotto that it formed near the base of the island. This video clip was recorded on October 2, 2021, from the southern crater rim."

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Hawaii's Kilauea, has erupted sending molten rock and plumes of smoke high into the air following weeks of high seismic activity.

The USGS said that the Kilauea volcano's Halemaumau crater, located in Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park on Big Island began erupting on 29th September.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory first raised the volcano's alert level from 'advisory' to 'warning' and the aviation alert from 'yellow' to 'red'. But now they have dropped it from 'warning' to 'watch'.

According to the USGS website, the colour codes imply that a hazardous eruption is “imminent, underway or suspected”. USGS added that despite the raised warnings, the eruption does not currently threaten any populated areas of the island as it is entirely contained to the National Park.

David Phillips, from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, told CNN: “Just after midnight, we started to get some increase in earthquake activity and seismic swarms.”

He added that the eruption could well go on for months.

In the footage posted on Twitter by Hawaii Volcanoes NPS (National Park Service), a time-lapse of the increasing volcanic activity is shown with the smoke leaving the volcano becoming thicker and more abundant.

According to a statement from NPS, this eruption started some four months since the last eruption came to an end in May.

Kilauea is a highly active shield volcano that is believed to be between 210,000 and 280,000 years old, it emerged from the sea about 100,000 years ago.

Its last major eruption took place between May and September 2018 and led to thousands of local residents being displaced and the destruction of 716 homes.

The eruption in 2018 saw lava oozing from 24 different vents with one major explosion sending debris flying 30,000 feet (9,100 metres) into the sky.

Currently, there are several vents oozing lava from the volcano but the local authorities have not closed the National Park to tourists visiting the volcano.

NPS said in a statement: "We continue to work with USGS scientists to receive the latest volcanic updates, and remind visitors that the eruptive activity and accessibility could change at any time."