HONOLULU (KHON2) — Lava is once again lighting up the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, as the U.S. Geological Survey reports a new phase of sustained lava fountaining that began Tuesday evening.
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According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), Episode 20 of the ongoing eruption kicked off at 5:28 p.m. Tuesday, when intermittent gas bursts from the volcano’s north vent suddenly transitioned into continuous, vigorous fountains of lava reaching more than 500 feet high.
The lava is now flowing rapidly across the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, even pouring over the south vent, which remains quiet for now.
This latest activity was accompanied by a quick shift in ground movement — from inflation to deflation — and a spike in volcanic tremor. Scientists say the ground at the summit tilted by about 8 microradians, a sign of significant underground changes…