The US Geological Survey announces that the Kilauea Volcano from Hawaii has been erupting again since Thursday, and the view is anything but pleasant. Huge amounts of lava and gas are thrown far up into the sky.
Luckily, there seems to be no threat to the people living in the area. That’s because lava coming from Kilauea is contained within its crater in a restricted area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Hawaii’s emergency management agency stated via a tweet:
Latest update from @USGSVolcanoes indicates lava fountains at Kilauea have reached as high as 150-plus feet in the air, but lava is still contained within the crater in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. No threat to communities.
Latest update from @USGSVolcanoes indicates lava fountains at Kilauea have reached as high as 150-plus feet in the air, but lava is still contained within the crater in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. No threat to communities. pic.twitter.com/u8hOJ1v82D
— Hawaii EMA (@Hawaii_EMA) January 6, 2023
Kilauea is the most active of the five volcanoes that make up the island of Hawaii and has been in almost continuous eruption since 1983. The lava flows from Kilauea have destroyed several communities, including the town of Kalapana in 1990. In 2018, Kilauea underwent a major eruption that resulted in the destruction of over 700 homes and the evacuation of thousands of residents.
Despite the destruction caused by its eruptions, Kilauea is also an important cultural and spiritual site for Native Hawaiians. It is considered a sacred place and is home to many religious ceremonies. The area around Kilauea is also a popular tourist destination, with the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park attracting millions of visitors each year.
One amazing fact about Kilauea is that it has one of the longest documented histories of the continuous eruption of any volcano in the world. The current eruption, which began in 1983, has lasted for over four decades and shows no signs of slowing down. This is truly remarkable, as most volcanic eruptions are relatively short-lived events. In addition to its long-lasting eruption, Kilauea is also known for its very fluid lava, which can flow for great distances and cover large areas in a short period of time.
