One of the most active volcanoes in the world erupted again early Monday, with lava fountains stretching more than 200 feet and a plume of toxic gas soaring above Hawaii, officials said.
Kilauea’s eruption began around 2 a.m. and “may go for a while,” said Ken Hon, head scientist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
There were no immediate threats to infrastructure, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Hon said “vog” — a potentially harmful mix of water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide — was expected in elevated levels in areas south and west of the volcano in the coming days. The volcanic smog is expected to be severe, and he encouraged residents to stay indoors.
Lava fountains as high as 262 feet were seen at 4:30 a.m., the agency said, and “lava bombs” and other molten material were being ejected from the crater’s floor. As of 5:30 a.m., the agency estimated that 400 acres of the caldera floor was covered in lava.
The volcano, in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, has been erupting since 1983. Its most recent eruptions were in June and September, Hon said.
Dozens of homes were destroyed after an eruption in 2018 that forced thousands to flee.