Kilauea volcano erupted once again on Hawaii’s Big Island Tuesday, sending lava plumes soaring into the sky.
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2025), shooting lava into the sky and drawing crowds to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The eruption began at 10:16 a.m. when molten rock broke through the surface inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Within 30 minutes, a vent blasted lava 330 feet (100 meters) high, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
The fiery display sent glowing fountains of lava cascading onto the crater floor, adding fresh layers to the still-active volcanic landscape.
This marks Kilauea’s ninth eruption since Dec. 23, 2024. Previous eruptions have lasted between 13 hours and eight days, with pauses in between. Scientists say the latest activity is consistent with the volcano’s recent pattern of short-lived eruptions.
No immediate threat to communities
Despite the dramatic display, officials report that lava remains contained within the summit crater. No homes or communities are in immediate danger, and no evacuations have been ordered.
However, authorities are closely monitoring volcanic gas emissions, which can create vog – a form of volcanic smog that can affect air quality, particularly in downwind areas.
WATCH: Kilauea volcano began shooting lava into the air once again Tuesday on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has been erupting on and off for nearly two months since it burst to life on Dec. 23.
The eruption has been taking place at… pic.twitter.com/pklWTWaQkb
— ShanghaiEye🚀official (@ShanghaiEye) February 12, 2025
The eruption drew crowds to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as officials urged visitors to stay in designated viewing areas for safety due to the unstable terrain around the crater.
Why Kilauea keeps erupting?
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, sitting along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates shift and create frequent volcanic activity.
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted again on Wednesday, creating dazzling lava fountains.
It marked the fourth episode of an eruption that began on December 23. pic.twitter.com/SM0BltRhWS
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) January 17, 2025
Unlike explosive eruptions seen in some parts of the world, Kilauea primarily produces effusive eruptions, meaning lava flows steadily rather than erupting violently.
The volcano’s activity is driven by magma rising through cracks in the Earth’s crust, fueled by Hawaii’s hot spot – a fixed zone of intense heat beneath the Pacific Plate. Over millions of years, this hot spot has created the Hawaiian Islands.
Other notable eruptions
Kilauea’s most destructive eruption in recent history occurred in 2018, when lava flows destroyed more than 700 homes and reshaped parts of Hawaii’s Big Island. That eruption lasted four months and created new land along the coastline.
In contrast, Kilauea’s current eruptions have been far less destructive, mostly confined to the summit crater.
Hawaii’s other major volcano, Mauna Loa, erupted briefly in November 2022 after lying dormant for nearly 40 years. Unlike Kilauea, Mauna Loa’s lava flows move more rapidly, posing a greater risk to communities.
Scientists monitoring activity
Geologists continue to track seismic activity, gas emissions, and ground swelling, which could signal changes in the eruption’s behavior. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will provide updates as conditions evolve.
For now, visitors and residents remain captivated by one of nature’s most powerful forces, as lava continues to glow beneath the night sky.
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