Kilauea eruption sends lava fountains soaring over 1,000 feet

The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted again in the early hours of June 20, sending towering lava fountains more than 1,000 feet into the air in one of the most powerful displays of volcanic activity seen on the island in recent years. According to the United States Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the eruption began shortly after midnight, with the most intense activity observed around 1:40 a.m. local time at the north vent of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Scientists confirmed that the lava fountains initially reached heights exceeding 1,000 feet before gradually stabilizing around 800 feet.

The eruption marks the 26th eruptive episode since December 2024 and follows a pattern of continued summit-level activity that geologists have been closely monitoring for months. Although visually dramatic, the event posed no immediate danger to nearby communities, as all lava flows remained confined within the boundaries of the crater inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Local authorities reported no evacuations or injuries, and the park remained open to visitors under elevated safety advisories.

Alongside the lava fountains, the eruption produced a tall plume of volcanic gas and ash, which rose to an estimated altitude of 15,000 feet. Observers noted the dispersal of fine volcanic glass strands known as Pele’s hair and other small fragments known as tephra, carried by wind across the southern parts of the island. Seismic instruments also recorded elevated ground tremors in the vicinity, consistent with the strong magma flow feeding the summit vent.

Ken Hon, scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, described the eruption as one of the most energetic in recent memory and compared the lava displays to those seen during the famous 1959 Kilauea Iki eruption, when fountains reached heights of nearly 1,900 feet. He noted that while the current event did not reach such extremes, it remains among the most spectacular eruptions of the past decade.

The public has been urged to follow official guidance and remain at a safe distance, although several designated viewing areas within the national park offered limited but safe visibility of the eruption. Volcanologists continue to monitor the crater for any signs of escalation or structural changes, though they currently consider the situation stable.

Experts emphasized that eruptions of this magnitude, while not unprecedented for Kilauea, serve as a clear reminder of the volcano’s ongoing activity and the importance of continuous geological surveillance. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory maintains a high level of alert for the region, noting that further eruptions are possible and that gas emissions remain elevated. For now, the lava remains confined, and the fountains, though extraordinary in height and energy, are being treated as a contained geological phenomenon rather than an emergency threat.