Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawai’i began erupting early this morning, December 23rd, at around 2 a.m. local time. The eruption is taking place within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the volcano’s summit. Lava fountains were observed erupting from fissures on the crater floor, creating a spectacular display of fiery incandescence against the dark pre-dawn sky.
This eruption comes after a period of heightened unrest at Kīlauea, with increased earthquake activity and ground deformation observed in the days leading up to the event. The alert level has been raised to WARNING and the aviation color code to RED, reflecting the potential hazards associated with the eruption, such as lava flows, volcanic gas emissions, and the possibility of explosive activity. Currently, the eruption is contained within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which lies within the closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, posing no immediate threat to infrastructure or communities. However, authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
