A powerful but short-lived eruption at Kilauea volcano’s summit on Wednesday sent fountains of molten rock soaring to extraordinary heights, with one reaching an estimated 1,300 feet. The dramatic spectacle, which lasted approximately six hours, was the latest in a series of eruptive episodes that have been occurring at the volcano since late last year. The entire event was contained within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, posing no direct threat to nearby communities or infrastructure.
This recent burst of activity is part of an ongoing eruption that scientists have designated as its 34th episode since December. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the towering lava fountains exceeded the height of the Empire State Building. Despite the remarkable display, the eruption was brief, ending abruptly on Wednesday morning. The event offered a captivating spectacle for park visitors and online viewers of livestreams provided by U.S. government geologists.
Eruption Dynamics and Timeline
The 34th eruptive episode began after midnight on October 1, 2025. The initial activity was observed at the north vent within the summit crater. About an hour later, the south vent became active, eventually producing the vertical fountains that reached the remarkable height of 1,300 feet (400 meters). The more vigorous phase of the episode commenced at 12:53 a.m. The eruption concluded suddenly at 7:03 a.m., after having spewed an estimated 8.9 million cubic yards of lava. The end of the eruption was marked by a rapid change from deflationary tilt to inflation and a decrease in seismic tremor.
Geological Processes at Play
Magma Supply and Pressure
Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory explain that a lower magma chamber beneath the Halemaʻumaʻu crater is being fed magma from the Earth’s interior at a rate of about 5 cubic yards per second. This influx of magma pressurizes the chamber, likened to inflating a balloon, which in turn forces magma into an upper chamber. From this upper chamber, the magma is pushed to the surface through cracks.
Formation of Lava Fountains
The spectacular lava fountains are generated in part because the magma, which contains dissolved gases, travels to the surface through narrow, pipe-like vents. As the magma rises, the gases are released, and the pressure builds. The magma supply is often capped by heavier, degassed magma from a previous episode. Eventually, the pressure from the new, gas-rich magma becomes great enough to burst through, creating the towering fountains of molten rock.
Historical Context of Kilauea’s Activity
This style of repeated lava fountaining from Kilauea is relatively rare, with this being only the fourth such occurrence in the last 200 years. Previous instances of similar eruptive episodes were recorded in 1959 and 1969. The most recent comparable event began in 1983 and involved 44 separate fountaining sessions spread out over three years. However, those fountains occurred in a more remote area of the volcano, making them less accessible for viewing.
Public Safety and Environmental Impacts
The lava from Wednesday’s eruption remained confined to the summit crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and did not threaten any homes or buildings. Officials also stated that the eruption was not expected to have an impact on local commercial airports. However, the National Weather Service did issue a special weather statement warning of likely ashfall in the Kaʻū district and along Highway 11, southwest of the town of Volcano, due to low-level trade winds. Visitors to the park were advised to take precautions, as volcanic gas, glass particles, and ash can be hazardous.
Scientific Monitoring and Reporting
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Kilauea’s activity closely. Despite a federal government shutdown, the observatory was able to issue a status report at the beginning of the episode and a volcanic activity notice for aviation. The volcano’s alert level remains at WATCH. While updates to social media platforms were paused due to the shutdown, the summit webcams that provide live views of the eruption remained operational for the public and scientists.
