Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Erupts In Area That Was Dormant Since 1974

Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is erupting again, and this time in an area that has been inactive for half a century. Alert levels have been raised across Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as there are concerns the eruption could flare up again despite only lasting six hours on Monday. 

The US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the eruption was about 1 mile south of the Kilauea caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The last time this area experienced an eruption was in December 1974. 

“Glow is visible in webcam imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures,” the US Geological Survey said. 

#Kilauea: A new eruption began at approximately 12:30 a.m. HST, in the Upper SWRZ. The most recent eruption in this region was during December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours. At this time, it is not possible to say how long the eruption will last. https://t.co/GI1G4eh6RU pic.twitter.com/gq2xqm67qr

— Artanis 🌋 (@Artanis041) June 3, 2024

The glow from the fissure southwest of the Hale’maumau Crater at Kīlauea pic.twitter.com/HcYpm7kJkF

— smartmonkeee 🙊🌺👑🦕🐋🐬🐠🦭🐙🦖🐝🌴 (@smartmonkeee) June 3, 2024

HVO raised the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from a “watch” to a “warning.” The aviation color code in the surrounding area has been elevated from “orange” to “red.”

Fox News Weather spoke with scientists who say there’s no telling how long the current eruption will last. 

Before the eruption, USGS reported earthquake swarms on Sunday as magma moved beneath the surface. 

In 2023, Kilauea erupted in January, June and September. An eruption in 2018 destroyed 700 homes. 

“From 1983 to 2018, all of the activity came from two vents,” said Michael Poland, a geophysicist with the USGS, who spoke with The New York Times. 

Poland continued, “Since 2018, it has gone away from a period of steady eruptions. Now it has discrete, usually shortish eruptions happening in several different places. Now we’re getting eruptions happening in places we haven’t seen in 50 years.”