Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano Erupts, Residents of Nearby Island Told to Stay Away

JAKARTA - The Kīlauea volcano erupted, spewing lava more than 1,000 feet from the summit on Tuesday, March 12 local time.

According to NBC News, Wednesday, March 11, this incident is a new sign of increased volcanic activity in Hawaii since the last eruption on December 23, 2024.

Given this dangerous situation, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closed the hiking trail to the summit of Kīlauea.

State officials through the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency then implemented restrictions on traffic access to the national park only for emergency vehicles.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is asking residents in the vicinity of Kīlauea Volcano to be alert for eruption impacts such as volcanic debris known as tephra.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said lava flows had covered about a third of the floor of the Halema'uma'u crater, referring to the basin at the top of the volcano.

The USGS also warned of the impact of tephra on residents living in the nearest radius on islands such as Volcano Village and Mauna Loa Estates.