Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted on October 17, sending lava fountains 720 feet into the night sky. The event started at 3:19 am at the Halemaumau crater. Scientists said about seven million cubic metres of lava erupted before it paused. Experts continue to monitor the site as the volcano remains active.
Lava fountains reaching hundreds of feet into the night sky have illuminated Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, offering a dramatic display of the geological forces shaping Earth's surface.
The latest episode of the volcano's ongoing eruption began on October 17, sending molten rock cascading across the summit crater.
According to the US Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Episode Kanalima Kmlima (55) began at 3:19 am local time on Saturday, October 17, at the north vent inside Halemaumau crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The lava fountains reached a maximum height of approximately 720 feet (220 metres) around 5 am before the episode ended at 9:03 am.
Preliminary estimates suggest about seven million cubic metres of lava erupted during the event. The eruption is currently paused, with scientists continuing to monitor the volcano.
WHY IS KILAUEA SO ACTIVE?
Kilauea is among the world's most active volcanoes, partly because of its location above a geological hotspot beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Unlike volcanoes that form primarily along the boundaries of tectonic plates, Hawaii's volcanoes are fuelled by unusually hot material rising from deep within Earth's mantle. As the Pacific Plate moves over this relatively stationary hotspot, magma rises through the crust, building volcanic islands over millions of years.
Kilauea also produces predominantly basaltic lava, which is relatively fluid compared with the thick, sticky magma found at many other volcanoes. This allows lava to flow readily and gases to escape, contributing to frequent eruptions and spectacular fountains.
The volcano's current summit eruption began on December 23, 2024, and has since produced repeated episodes of intense lava fountaining separated by pauses. Episode 55 followed nearly two months after the previous major fountaining episode on August 25, 2026.
IS THE ERUPTION DANGEROUS?
Although the latest activity has been confined to a restricted area of the national park, volcanic hazards remain significant. Lava, falling volcanic fragments, volcanic gases and unstable crater walls can pose serious risks near active vents.
The USGS continues to monitor seismic activity, ground deformation and gas emissions to track changes in the volcano's behaviour.
Kilauea's spectacular displays offer scientists a valuable opportunity to study how magma moves beneath Earth's surface — but its activity remains a reminder that the planet is constantly evolving.