Kilauea’s summit crater began erupting Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, less than one month after the volcano and its larger neighbor Mauna Loa ceased lava production.
Kilauea has began erupting inside Halemaumau crater near the summit caldera of the volcano, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Kilauea’s summit is located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and away from inhabited areas.
The U.S. Geological Survey upped the alert level for Kilauea on Thursday owing to indicators of magma movement beneath the summit, indicating that the volcano may erupt.
Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It erupted for sixteen months beginning with September 2021. When Mauna Loa erupted for the first time in 38 years on November 27, Hawaii had two volcanoes spouting lava side by side for approximately two weeks. Both volcanoes stopped erupting simultaneously.
Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were able to view lava from both eruptions simultaneously during the twin eruption.
Ken Hon, the scientist in charge of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, stated, “It was a beautiful eruption, and many people were able to witness it. No major infrastructure was destroyed, and most importantly, no lives were lost.”
Lava from Mauna Loa did not threaten any communities, but came within 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) of a major roadway connecting the island’s east and west sides. The 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed almost 700 homes.
The observatory intended to continue observing the volcanoes for indications of fresh activity. Previously, Hon stated that there is often a three-month “cooling off” period before experts deem an eruption over.
Due to magma movement beneath the top of the mountain’s summit, the warning level for the volcano has been raised.
AP
It was unknown what could have caused the volcanoes to cease erupting at roughly the same time. Multiple locations in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near Kilauea’s caldera provide simultaneous views of the two volcanoes.
Hon earlier stated that scientists intended to examine data to investigate the relationship between the two volcanoes.
Volcanic eruptions have profound cultural and spiritual importance for Native Hawaiians. During the eruption of Mauna Loa, many Hawaiians participated in traditional rituals, such as singing, chanting, and dancing to worship Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and fire, and leaving “hookupu” offerings.
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