Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began erupting Wednesday morning, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported, and officials raised the alert level to red.
“At approximately 4:44 a.m. HST on June 7, 2023, the (U.S. Geological Survey’s) Hawai’i Volcano Observatory detected a glow on Kīlauea’s summit webcam images indicating that an eruption has begun within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater in the Kīlauea summit caldera within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park,” the observatory said in a statement.
“The initial phases of the eruptions are dynamic. Webcam images show fissures at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater generating lava flows on the surface of the crater floor. Activity is limited to Halemaʻumaʻu and risks will be reassessed as the eruption progresses,” stated OVH.
The alert level for Kilauea was raised to red from “warning,” the observatory said.
The eruption is currently confined within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The observatory said it is in “constant communication” with park officials.
“At this time there is NO indication that populated areas are threatened,” the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said on Twitter.
A live video feed from the USGS shows incandescent lava shooting into the air at the top of the volcano.
Kilauea had already erupted in January and had shown signs of “increased agitation” in May. The volcano had stopped erupting in December for the first time since September 2021.