Home / Disasters and Accidents / Hawaii Volcano Erupts Lava 1,000 Feet High
Hawaii Volcano Erupts Lava 1,000 Feet High
11 Mar
Summary
- Lava fountain reached 1,000 feet, causing glassy fragment fallout.
- Kilauea eruption's 43rd episode began Tuesday morning.
- Volcanic ash and fragments led to park and highway closures.
An erupting Hawaii volcano, Kilauea, sent lava fountaining up to 1,000 feet high on Tuesday. This marked the 43rd episode of the ongoing eruption, which began in December 2024. The intense fountaining produced smoke and molten rock, captured in a livestream, though its duration remains uncertain.
The high lava spray created hazardous conditions with falling volcanic fragments and ash, known as tephra. These glassy fragments prompted temporary closures of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park around the summit area. A portion of Highway 11, a critical island route, was also partially shut down on either side of the park.
Authorities opened a shelter in a district gymnasium for those affected by the road closures or falling tephra. The National Weather Service issued an ashfall warning, cautioning that tephra can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory systems. It also poses risks to water catchment systems, which are common on the Big Island.
