Kilauea Volcano Eruption In Hawaii Spews Lava 65 Feet High (VIDEO)

VOLCANO, Hawaii (AP) -- A new vent has opened at one of the world's most active volcanoes, sending lava shooting up to 65 feet high, scientists at Kilauea volcano said Sunday.

(Scroll down for video)

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the fissure eruption was spotted shortly after the floor at the Pu'u O'o crater collapsed around 5 p.m. Saturday. It occurred along the middle of Kilauea's east rift zone, about 2 miles west of Pu'u O'o.

"As a volcanologist, this is what we do. These are the moments we wait for," volcanologist Janet Babb told KHON2. "It is exciting to see an eruption begin particularly if you can see it from the very start."

Kilauea has been in constant eruption since Jan. 3, 1983.

At the summit, lava receded rapidly late Saturday but seemed to slow Sunday. There were also about 150 small earthquakes were recorded within Kilauea in the past 24 hours.

Scientists said areas near the vent could erupt or collapse without warning, posing a threat to visitors or hikers to the area. Also potentially lethal concentrations of sulfer dioxide gas could be present within about a half-mile downwind of vent areas.

Because of the latest activity, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has closed Chain of Craters Road and all east rift zone and coastal trails. Kulanaokuaiki campground was also closed until further notice.

Babb told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that the fissure has expanded to about 535 yards long and that scientists were hiking into the remote area to observe the fissure and take readings.

No homes are under threat.

WATCH:

Comments

[Joyce Louden]

08:12 PM on 03/08/2011

This is so cool, I hope it is still happening next week when my family comes for a visit.

[HawaiiShira]

02:33 PM on 03/09/2011

I live in Na'alehu, about 30 miles away from Volcanoes National Park, but on a clear day, from my lanai, I can see the steam rising from the ocean where lava flows into it. When we first moved here a little over 5 years ago, you could drive around the crater. When friends of mine visited from Michigan, we actually walked down into the crater & took pictures standing on the floor. Three years ago, the lava activity increased & they restricted access to the observation deck because of the high fumes. I think they say the floor collapsed 375 feet! Even living here, I am still fascinated by the magnificence of Madam Pele. There is a definite life force energy to Hawaii, and especially, The Big Island, that many people feel.

Enjoy your visit...make sure you rent an SUV so you can get to Green Sands Beach near South Point. Stop in Naalehu at Punalu'u Bakery famous for its sweet bread. On your way to Volcano National Park, and before you get to Black Sand Beach (Punalu'u), there's a scenic view of Whittington Beach & worth stopping for pictures. Remember to stay at least 15 feet away from the turtles (it's federal law) at Punalu'u. Aloha! F&F'd

[Joyce Louden]

02:50 PM on 03/09/2011

I live on the big Island too, but I have relatives visiting soon.

I use to do the "volcano loop", the Kilauea summit, down Chain of Craters, and out via Kalapana before Puʻu ʻŌʻō took out the road, the homes and Kalapana itself.

But thanks for the tips.

[RenoSage]

06:28 PM on 03/08/2011

The process of change is still taking place. The Island is growing while we watch.
Evolution did not end.

[traceymarie]

04:25 PM on 03/08/2011

Years ago in Costa Rica I watched the eruption of a volcano at Lake Arenal, the next day I went hiking on the mountain. Wow, what an experience, the eruption was at nite so colors and lights were amazing.

[tresluv]

11:26 PM on 03/07/2011

Some helicopter footage from today (3/7) from one of our local news broadcasts. Aloha and enjoy, it's spectacular even by our standards. :_)

http://www.kitv.com/video/27107662/detail.html

[Sherzie]

04:37 PM on 03/08/2011

Thanks for the link! Went through the old vents when on our honeymoon in 1970! Kilauea was quiet then. We have a photo taken on Black Sand beach, which has been covered over by newer lava flows. Amazing to think that Kilauea has been erupting almost continuously for the last 28 years.

[JaxReader]

07:25 PM on 03/08/2011

Excellent thanks!

[tresluv]

10:42 PM on 03/07/2011

Thanks HuffPo for covering this. We in Hawaii are so often ignored, unless the President and his family are on vacation here.

I've lived on the Big Island since 1980, two years before the initial eruption started. I now live less than ten miles from Pu'u O'o and about the same distance from Halema'uma'u (the Kilauea summit eruption). And probably 10-12 miles from one of the lava "ocean entry" points (I think there are two of those active, right now).
At night I can see a pinkish-orange glow on the horizon, from my back porch. Is it scary? Occasionally, but it's far more awesome than scary. You get used to it, like people living in San Francisco or Tornado alley.

My only serious concern is that I have asthma, and that "potentially lethal sufur dioxide concentration" at half a mile from the fissures could spread, if the activity from various vents and craters continues to escalate.
But on balance, living with Madame Pele is quite an experience.

[The last sane American]

07:49 AM on 03/08/2011

Have you reported that infraction of release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere to the local EPA office?

And what are they going to do about it to protect you?

[tresluv]

08:06 AM on 03/08/2011

WTF??? *sigh*

[PunKinPai]

01:33 PM on 03/08/2011

You may want to rethink your screen name.

[anpu]

06:36 PM on 03/08/2011

The Big Island is so beautiful with its contrasting terrains. My family and I island hopped from Oahu to the Big Island and really enjoyed are visit there. Seeing steam rise from the ground at the Mauna Loa Crater and absolutely zero vegetation in sight, to driving approximately 1 mile outside of the crater and being in a rain forest was dramatic and beautiful at the same time. The snow capped mountain tops off in the distance only added to the beauty.

However, I must admit that it was somewhat scary to know that a volcano was steadily flowing lava on another section of the same island. My son and I would have played a round of golf at the Volcano Golf Course but the wife and daughter don't swing the clubs. The next time we are out in paradise we will avoid Oahu and spend more time on the Big Island.

[BluePhantom2]

06:23 PM on 03/07/2011

Stood at the bottom of the crater in 1980, a couple of years before the current eruption started.

[The last sane American]

07:50 AM on 03/08/2011

Not topping! On the crater edge in 1973 that is not longer there.

[llabesab1234]

06:12 PM on 03/07/2011

Does Barry Soetoro know about this??

[PunKinPai]

01:35 PM on 03/08/2011

I'll bet you only listen to the oldies station.

[tresluv]

06:15 PM on 03/08/2011

Probably too busy listening to Limbaugh.

[Sherzie]

04:41 PM on 03/08/2011

Why aren't you watching Faux News instead of posting irrelevant statements here.?

[Equinator]

04:16 PM on 03/07/2011

Break out the marshmallows!

[hardknocks]

03:41 PM on 03/07/2011

The Hawaiian Islands are still growing and giving birth……….very cool

[tresluv]

10:47 PM on 03/07/2011

We feel it here on the Big Island, believe me. Both the painful part (loss of more than 100 homes, most in historical Kalapana Village) and the persistent respiratory problems associated with living here, and the spectacular beauty of the fountains and flows, as well as the gut-awareness of living on a still growing landmass.

[palindrom]

03:35 PM on 03/07/2011

Fantastic footage. I actually liked the lack of narration and music - - this is enough by itself!

[ReligiousWar]

03:30 PM on 03/07/2011

I am not a vulcanologioust so I have a couple of questions. Maybe we shouldn't be taking oil out of the earth, maybe it is needed to keep the planet working? Why can't we put our garbage in the seduction zone instead of landfills?

[llabesab1234]

06:14 PM on 03/07/2011

I think just the opposite. The Earth is spewing "stuff" up because we are NOT taking enough "stuff" out. Ever hear of Volcanic action in, say, Saudi Arabia where they REALLY take "stuff' out.

[tresluv]

10:53 PM on 03/07/2011

That is the most "uneducated" statement you could possibly dream up (llabesab1234).

There is no oil under the ground here in the Hawaiian Islands, the land is to "young". So "not taking stuff out" of the ground has NOTHING to do with volcanic activity.

Nor does drilling for oil in the middle east have anything to do with 'no' volcanic activity there. That is due to the fact that Saudi Arabia is nowhere near a geologically active subterranean areas.

[i the ys]

01:34 AM on 03/09/2011

Of course you think just the opposite. You spell baseball backwards.

[BluePhantom2]

06:26 PM on 03/07/2011

It's called a subduction zone and they are very deep 5-15 miles down and only move in inches per year. The water they pull down are the engines that drive the ring of fire.

[ReligiousWar]

08:03 PM on 03/07/2011

Ahh the horrors of spell check.

There must be some way to inject garbage into the mantle. Or maybe that is not such a good idea, just a thought.

[niv001]

03:23 PM on 03/07/2011

Magnificent.

[ThinkCreeps]

03:20 PM on 03/07/2011

Definitely issues with gay marriage - I bet there's going to a breastquake soon.

[llabesab1234]

06:14 PM on 03/07/2011

Next, Muslims will want to marry their camels--females of course!

[tresluv]

11:00 PM on 03/07/2011

WTF??? Are you making an effort to sound as st00pid as possible? (not to mention as far OT as you could get).

[edduhduh]

02:58 PM on 03/07/2011

An awesome nature event.

[PatLow]

02:29 PM on 03/07/2011

Please climb back into the basement or cave.

[Libertarian09]

03:07 PM on 03/07/2011

See response to Alice77star below

[tresluv]

11:01 PM on 03/07/2011

Or a lava tube.

[Alice77star]

02:30 PM on 03/07/2011

Ignoramus.