Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts as officials warn harmful ash could shoot into the air

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has issued a warning following a volcanic eruption.

The USGS issued the warning early this morning after the Kilauea volcano erupted within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after midnight according to CBS News.

The alert indicated that the current volcano alert level and aviation color code are marked warning and red, which means that ash is expected to be on the ground and in the atmosphere.

‘Glow is visible in webcam imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures,’ the update read.

The USGS could not clarify how long the eruption will last but that its observatory is continuing to monitor the volcano and update the alert if necessary.

The Kilauea volcano was formed underwater around 280,000 years ago, and it is the youngest and most active volcano in Hawaii according to the National Park Service (NPS).

Hawaiian residents have believed this volcano to be the home of the volcanic deity Pelehonuamea, which is a name for the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire.

Kilauea volcano has erupted more than 60 times since its creation in the 1800s, and the effects of its eruptions are the same.

The eruptions release high levels of volcanic gas, which is primarily made up of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

Sulfur dioxide could also create volcanic smog (vog) - a haze made up of gas and an aerosol of particles and droplets created when gasses emitted from a volcano interact with sunlight, atmospheric oxygen, moisture, and dust.

Vog can be a health hazard for residents and guests with a history of respiratory issues according to the USGS.

Sulfur dioxide can also cause skin irritation, tissue and mucous membrane irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat, and respiratory distress.

Individuals can also suffer from flu-like symptoms, lack of energy, and be at high risk of accidents when driving in traffic.

The Kilauea volcano’s recent eruption before this was in September 2023, and it lasted for about a week, according to the USGS.

The eruption caused damage to Mayana Kia Road and various closures and delays near one of Hawaii’s summits.

However, the Kilauea volcano’s eruption in 2018 destroyed 700 homes and triggered thousands of earthquakes, one being a magnitude of 6.9 according to Fox Weather.

A Kilauea volcano eruption has not occurred in the current Hawaiian region since December 1974 that lasted for six hours.