Los Angeles, Dec 24
Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, started erupting again in Hawaii's Big Island, the US Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
Elevated earthquake activity beneath the volcano's summit began at approximately 2:00 a.m. local time on Monday. By 2:30 a.m. local time, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory observed eruptive activity in Kilauea summit webcam images, indicating that an eruption has commenced within Halemaumau crater and the summit caldera in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, according to a news release from the agency.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said it is elevating Kilauea's volcano alert level from advisory to warning and its aviation color code from yellow to red as this eruption and associated hazards are evaluated.
The opening phases of eruptions are dynamic, said the agency, adding that the activity is confined to the summit caldera and the hazards will be reassessed as the eruption progresses.
The USGS noted that high levels of volcanic gas -- primarily water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) -- are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects down-wind.
It's the second time the volcano has erupted this year. The most recent Kilauea eruption was in September, news agency reported.