Lava began bubbling on Monday through the crust of one of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island.
The eruption was confined to the volcano’s summit caldera, in a remote, closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported.
Increased earthquake activity began at about 2am local time and within about half an hour webcam images began to show lava emerging through fissures in the caldera or spurting in fountains.
The most immediate threat was from volcanic smog that could reach homes downwind, the observatory said. Such “vog” contains sulphur dioxide and can worsen symptoms for people who have conditions like asthma, other respiratory issues or cardiovascular disease.
The area where the eruption is taking place has been closed to the public since 2007 because of hazards that include crater wall instability, ground cracking and rockfalls.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea also erupted in June and September.