Hawaii Volcano Eruption Sparks Warning: Lava Can ‘Destroy Everything’

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that lava flows from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano could “destroy everything in their paths” as eruptions resumed on Monday night.
The eruption on the volcano’s middle East Rift Zone began Sunday and has since resumed. The eruption is occurring in a remote part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that is closed to the public, according to the most recent update from the USGS.
Kilauea, which sits on the southeastern shore of the Big Island, is an extremely active volcano that has been erupting regularly since 1983. Most of its eruptions tend to not be destructive and are contained within the crater, but an eruption in 2018 caused large, slow-moving lava flows throughout the nearby Puna District that eventually destroyed more than 700 homes. No one was injured.
The current eruption is not expected to have the same impact.
“The eruption does not currently pose an immediate threat to human life or infrastructure,” the USGS update said. “Chain of Craters Road, which is closed, is located downslope and downwind of the erupting fissures. Residents of nearby subdivisions may experience volcanic gas emissions…related to this activity, which may wax and wane over the coming days.”
Although there is no threat to life or property now, the situation can change suddenly.
“Additional ground cracking and outbreaks of lava around the active fissures are possible at any time, or, existing fissures can be reactivated,” the update said. “Hawaiian lava flows generally advance slowly downslope and can be avoided by people. They can destroy everything in their paths including vegetation and infrastructure—which can cut off road access and utilities.”
Newsweek reached out to the USGS by email for comment.
Other hazards related to the erupting volcano include the issuance of a high level of volcanic gas. The gas can cause impacts downwind with the presence of vog, or volcanic smog.
“Vog creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock,” the update said.
Lava flows can cause uneven terrain that is difficult to navigate, as well as hot temperatures that lead to heat exhaustion or dehydration, among other hazards.
The Kilauea eruption was caught on camera on Monday night, and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Service (NPS) shared the image to X, formerly Twitter.
“The eruption that began on the night of September 15 has resumed. The eruption area including Chain of Craters Road remains closed at this time,” the NPS posted with the image.