Latest news with #HawaiʻiVolcanoesNationalPark
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Foolish tourist sparks major rescue operation after trying to get 'a closer look' at Kīlauea volcano eruption
A foolish tourist plunged 30 feet off a cliff while trying to get 'a closer look' at one of the world's most active volcanoes. Disaster struck on June 11, when the 30-year-old Boston man veered from the Byron Ledge Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park with no headlamp or flashlight. He was trying to get a better view of the famous volcano Kīlauea as it erupted - but ended up falling off a steep cliff, according to a statement from the park service. Fortunately, a tree branch broke the Bostonian's fall and stopped him from plummeting 100 feet to the volcano's caldera. If the branch had not been there, he would have slammed into the gaping hollow surrounding the volcano, 'which could have resulted in his death,' the park service wrote. The park's search and rescue team rushed to the scene to perform the 'high-angle' operation, which involved cautiously climbing down the cliff and hauling the tourist to safety. The man, whose name has not been publicly released, suffered minor injuries to his face from the dramatic fall. Employees of the major tourist attraction have warned other visitors not to stray from the park's trails. 'Stay on marked trails and overlooks. Do not approach earth cracks or cliff edges, the edge is often unstable, undercut, or hidden by vegetation or loose rocks,' the statement reads. 'Do not climb over rock walls, railings, or safety barriers, they are there for your safety.' People should also keep a close eye on their group, particularly children, wear appropriate footwear for hiking and carry a flashlight or headlamp at night. Kīlauea is the youngest and most active volcano in Hawaii and one of the most active in the world. It is also the island's most dangerous one, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). A recent surge of eruptions has sent visitors flocking to the park to watch the magma spew from the roughly 280,000-year-old landmark. Photos shared by the park show visitors eager for a glimpse of the natural occurrence lining up along the side of a nearby highway, causing miles-long traffic pileups. It began erupting on June 11 for the 25th time since December 23, 2024, according to the park service. The December eruption was Kīlauea's eighth one since 2020, the USGS reported. The longest and most destructive recorded eruption from Kilauea persisted from January 1983 to April 2018 and caused significant property damage, including the destruction of two towns in 1990 and a renowned black sand beach. In 2018, roughly 2,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes because of an eruption. Kīlauea killed at least four people in the 1900s, according to the USGS. In 1993, a visitor wandered onto the seacoast bench, a landmass surrounding the volcano, and died as it collapsed. Two campers at Halape, the beach and campground near Kīlauea, died from a tsunami that followed an earthquake caused by volcanic activity in 1975. Kīlauea's death toll includes earthquakes, as they are linked to volcanic activity. In 1924, a photographer died as rocks flew from Halema`uma`u, one of the volcano's crater pits, and struck him. From 1983 to 2003, five tourists died from exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2), a toxic gas emitted from eruptions. Mass casualty incidents occurred in earlier years, including a 1868 disaster that killed 46 people, according to the USGS. This catastrophe occurred when 'a huge earthquake caused widespread shaking, coastal subsidence, and a tsunami that destroyed several villages.' Circa 1790, a caldera explosion killed anywhere from 80 to 5,405 'warriors,' 'people,' or 'countrymen,' according to the earliest written accounts from the volcano's earliest witnesses. The USGS noted the smaller headcount is likely more accurate.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch: 1,000-Foot Lava Jets Erupt From Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano
Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, is at it again. The infamous crater has been spurting fountains of lava on and off since the end of last year, and on May 25, it shot a fiery jet of molten rock over 300 meters (1,000 feet) into the sky. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) livestreamed a video of the uncontrolled outburst – the volcano's 23rd tantrum since December 2024, and the biggest of the bunch. All in all, Kīlauea's latest blowup lasted for just over six hours. Beginning at 4:15 pm Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time, thin jets of lava began erupting from the north vent, turning from sporadic bursts to sustained fountains of lava. Within half an hour, the situation at the north vent had escalated quickly, and a lava fountain reached its pinnacle of 300 meters. Soon after, in a south vent, other fountains of lava reached 250 meters in height. "Large lava flows erupted from both vents and covered about half of Halema'uma'u crater floor," reads a USGS update. By 10:25 pm that night, both vents had calmed down. Luckily, for now, all of the eruptions have been contained within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawai'i. But that doesn't mean surrounding populations won't face fallout. The eruptive plume of ash, volcanic glass, and rock produced by Kīlauea on May 25 reached at least 1,500 meters into the sky. Scientists at the USGS say their primary concern is the volcanic gas, which could travel downwind and impact human health, possibly causing respiratory issues if concentrations in the air are high enough. Eruptions like these, however, can also produce strands of volcanic glass, called Pele's hair, which can also travel on the wind and cause skin and eye irritation. The volcano has quietened down for now, but in its current phase it seems to be kicking up a fuss every week or so. There's no signs a larger eruption is growing, but another outburst of lava is likely on the horizon. Giant Megalodon's Prey Finally Revealed, And It's Not What We Thought Earth's Core Holds a Vast Reservoir of Gold, And It's Leaking Toward The Surface Scientists Peered Inside The Echidna's Mysterious 'Pseudo-Pouch'
Fox News
26-05-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano erupts with 1,000-foot 'lava fountaining'
Kīlauea Volcano – located along the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island – experienced "lava fountaining" that reached at least 1,000 feet high over the weekend. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) describes Kīlauea as one of the world's most active volcanoes. It has been erupting intermittently since Dec. 23, 2024, within the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The 23rd episode of precursory activity began late last week with "low-level spattering and flames." According to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, small lava fountains and lava overflows from the north vent started around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. "Sustained fountaining expected any time through the weekend," Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Service wrote. The USGS reports that Kīlauea "is in a unique phase of activity in Halemaʻumaʻu, with numerous episodes of dual lava fountains since the eruption began." "Two eruptive vents are located in the southwest part of the caldera, referred to as the north and south vent, and they have been intermittently active, producing new lava flows over parts of Halemaʻumaʻu crater surface," according to the USGS. As of 5:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, the south vent had lava fountains 230 feet high, while the north vent had lava fountains 1,000 feet high, according to Hawaii News Now. USGS livestreams of the eruption site showed the lava fountains dropping in height and later stopping. The vents were still glowing and lava was still visibile on the crater floor. The volcano's last "fountaining phase" extended for about 10 hours on May 16, according to the USGS. Kīlauea experienced other recent fountaining phases this month on May 11, May 6 and May 2, lasting eight hours, 4.5 hours and eight hours, respectively. During the ongoing eruption, the USGS reported that pressure building beneath the surface caused an inflationary tilt prior to a lava fountaining episode. As pressure within the magma is released when lava fountaining begins, a switch to a deflationary tilt occurs. That pattern of inflation and deflation with every recent lava fountain episode "creates a saw-tooth pattern in ground tilt records over the past several months," according to the USGS, though the government agency reports that the summit has shown little net change in pressurization since the eruption began on Dec. 23, 2024.
