Kilauea Volcano Spews 'Lava Fountain' 1,000 Feet Above Hawaii

Activity at the summit of Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has been intermittent since an eruption on December 23, 2024

On Sunday, footage showed jets of lava spraying into the air, forming neon-orange fissures as it flowed within Kilauea's caldera.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the eruption began at 4:15 pm Sunday Hawaii Standard Time (0215 GMT Monday) in the north vent of Halema'uma'u, a pit crater of Kilauea.

An hour later, the south vent started agitating, spewing lava fountains of about 230 feet "while lava fountains from the north vent are exceeding 1,000 feet (300 meters) in height," the agency said.

Lava flows are covering the floor of Halema'uma'u crater."

Sunday's activity was the 23rd since the December eruption, the agency said, adding that the lava fountains "have continued for around a day or less."

Primary hazards include high levels of volcanic gas, which could react with the atmosphere downwind to create a visible haze known as "vog" -- or volcanic smog.