Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Roars Back to Life, Marks 32nd Eruption Since 2024 With 330-Foot Lava Jets

Kilauea Volcano Erupts Again in Hawaii, 32nd Episode Since 2024.

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted early Wednesday, shooting lava fountains up to 330 feet (100 meters) high from its summit crater in the 32nd eruptive episode since December 2024. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said lava first broke through the north vent of Halemaʻumaʻu crater shortly after midnight, before spreading to the south vent and a third opening by morning. All activity has remained confined within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Scientists said magma is entering a lower chamber beneath the crater at about 3.8 cubic meters per second, forcing molten rock into an upper chamber and driving it through vents to the surface. “This magma blows the chamber up like a balloon and pushes it through cracks until it bursts out like liquid from a shaken champagne bottle,” said Ken Hon, scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Since December 2024, the volcano has repeatedly erupted along the same underground pathway, with earlier fountains reaching more than 1,000 feet (300 meters). Such recurring lava-fountain episodes have been recorded only four times in the past two centuries, most notably during an eruption that began in 1983 and lasted until 2018.

Experts say Kilauea could either open new vents at lower elevations, producing continuous lava flows, or quiet down if the magma supply decreases.