Volcanic eruption: Hawaii’s Kilauea erupts again in a remote area, no evacuations necessary

Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting early on Monday. Photo / AP

Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting early on Monday in a remote area that last erupted a half-century ago, the US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.

The eruption is about 1.6km south of the Kilauea caldera, in an area within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that last erupted in December 1974. The area surrounding the caldera has been closed to the public since 2008 because of other hazards, including ground cracking, instability in the crater wall and rockfalls.

“Glow is visible in webcam imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures,” the USGS observatory said. The eruption in 1974 only lasted about six hours. The observatory said it’s not yet possible to tell how long this eruption will last.

“The eruption is currently ongoing but is taking place in a remote location within the national park, is low in eruptive volume, and does not pose an immediate threat to human life or critical infrastructure.”

Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth said residents are accustomed to eruptions happening within the park. “People just need to realise this is in one of the safest places it could have happened,” he said. “Absolutely no property in danger.”

Typically the primary hazard during Kilauea eruptions is volcanic gas, which reacts with the atmosphere to create volcanic smog, or “vog”. The vog can present health hazards for residents and visitors, damage plants and affect livestock, the observatory said.

This webcam image provided by the US Geological Survey shows the summit of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, Monday, June 3, 2024. Photo / AP

“The only thing I’m a little worried about right now is air quality,” Roth said. He said the communities of Oceanview and Naalehu may experience some air quality issues.

The observatory logged roughly 250 earthquakes beneath the Kilauea summit in the hours before the eruption began. The observatory said it would issue updates on the eruption daily, as well as whenever there are significant changes in volcanic activity.