An eruption at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has led to a slew of closures within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The volcano's eruption began at around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, according to a park statement. This eruption followed an uptick in earthquakes and ground deformation reported at the subsurface of the volcano in previous days. As of Monday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, the eruption had paused, although it still prompted several areas of the park to close for safety reasons.
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Closures were made "due to the remote and unpredictable nature of the fissure eruption," according to the park, and are in place at Hilina Pali Road from Chain of Craters Road intersection, Kulanaokuaiki Campground, Pepeiao Cabin, Kaʻaha Trail and campground, Kaʻū Desert Trail and pullout on Highway 11 and Maunaiki Trail.
Newsweek reached out to the park by email for comment.
Other parts of the park remain open, including the Kīlauea Visitor Center, overlooks along Crater Rim Trail, Volcano House, Nāhuku lava tube and Chain of Craters Road. The National Park Service (NPS) said it anticipates an uptick in park visitors because of the eruption, although there were no safe lava-viewing locations as of Tuesday morning.
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"However, a beautiful red-orange lava glow was visible in the sky before dawn from overlooks along Crater Rim Trail including Uēkahuna and Volcano House," the NPS said in a webpage about the eruption. "Early risers witnessed the glowing evidence of Pele, the elemental force of Hawaiian volcanoes, return for the first time since September 2023. After daybreak, a wispy distant gas plume became visible from Uēkahuna and other summit overlooks."
The NPS also shared tips for visitors to remain safe while being "respectful of the sacredness of Kīlauea."
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"Visitors are urged to remain on marked trails and to refrain from entering closed areas. They also are urged to avoid cliff edges and earth cracks," the webpage said. "Respect Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners who honor the sacred legacy of this land and give them space to practice their customs. Slow down and drive safely. Expect long waits for parking spaces at popular vantage points."
Eruptions are not unusual at Kilauea, considering it is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. It has erupted frequently in the past 40 years. However, most eruptions are confined to the volcano's crater and do not pose a danger to surrounding communities.
The USGS said that "the eruption has paused, although seismicity and degassing continue."
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