*Update*: Kīlauea breaks record with 48th eruption episode and 200-meter lava fountains

Hawaii's Kīlauea has broken a record with its 48th eruption episode, one that had never been recorded for any single eruption of the volcano before. bnonews.com reports that lava fountains shot up to 650 feet – roughly 200 meters – into the air, once again reaching spectacular proportions.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu responded promptly: it issued an Ashfall Advisory for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as well as the communities of Volcano and Mountain View located to the north and northeast, after the fountains began at the north vent of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. watchers.news reports that the ashfall directly affected parts of the national park and residents were urged to exercise caution.

Most intense eruptions of the current cycle

The eruption episode began in the early morning hours and rapidly developed into one of the most intense eruptions of the current cycle. Lava streams poured across the crater floor while ash clouds rose into the atmosphere. abcnews.go.com describes how Kīlauea once again demonstrates its status as one of the world's most active volcanoes.

Kīlauea is located in the southeast of Hawaii's Big Island and has been nearly continuously active for decades. The current eruption series began last year and has been characterized by short, intense fountain episodes, each lasting hours to a few days before the volcano takes a break. With episode 48, this series now surpasses all previous records for a single eruption cycle of the volcano.

Health risks for surrounding communities

For the population of surrounding communities, the immediate danger from lava flows remains limited, as activity is concentrated on the summit crater. However, ash clouds pose a health risk, which is why authorities recommend wearing respiratory protection outdoors and keeping windows closed. The national park remains partially accessible to visitors, though individual areas are closed off.