Kīlauea Volcano Erupts with 1,300-Foot Lava Fountains, Prompting Park Closures and Ashfall Warnings on Hawai‘i’s Big Island

Hawai‘i’s Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island produced spectacular lava fountains reaching heights of up to 1,300 feet on Tuesday, prompting safety measures including park closures and road restrictions. The eruption, which began in December 2024, entered its 43rd episode with lava fountains shooting more than 1,000 feet into the sky, creating a dramatic display visible to residents and visitors. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) livestream of the event attracted thousands of viewers, showcasing the molten rock illuminating the summit crater known as Halemaʻumaʻu.

The volcanic activity has remained confined within Kīlauea’s summit crater inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, with no immediate threat to homes or buildings. However, the eruption has generated significant amounts of volcanic fragments and ash, known as tephra, which have fallen on surrounding communities and infrastructure. Due to the hazards posed by falling glassy volcanic fragments, the National Park Service temporarily closed the park’s summit area, and Hawaii County officials closed portions of Highway 11, a key route around the island near the park.

The USGS assigned the highest warning level, red, to the ongoing eruption, indicating a major volcanic event with hazardous activity both on the ground and in the air. The National Weather Service issued an ashfall warning extending through the evening for the national park and areas to the southeast and southwest. The warning advised residents and visitors to remain indoors, seal windows and doors, and protect electronic devices from exposure to volcanic ash. Ashfall can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory systems, and may also disrupt water catchment systems common in some parts of the Big Island.

In response to the closures and ashfall concerns, Hawaii County opened a shelter at a district gymnasium for residents and tourists affected by the road closure and falling tephra, although no one was reported to be using the facility shortly after it opened. Previous episodes of Kīlauea’s eruption have produced enough lava to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every few seconds and have required civil defense assistance to clean ash from homes. The volcano remains one of the world’s most active, continuing to draw attention for both its natural spectacle and the challenges it poses to nearby communities.