Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts after nearly two months of dormancy

Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, began erupting Sunday after a two-month hiatus, showing glowing lava a safe distance from people and structures in a Big Island national park. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported the eruption was observed at the summit of Kilauea in the afternoon. The observatory said gases released by the eruption would cause volcanic smog downwind of Kilauea. People living near the park should try to avoid volcanic particles thrown into the air by the eruption, the observatory said. The volcano’s alert level was raised to warning status and the aviation color code changed to red as scientists assessed the eruption and associated dangers. In June, Kilauea erupted for several weeks, forming fountains of red lava without leaving any communities or structures were at risk. Crowds of people flocked to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, which offered a safe view of the lava. Kilauea, Hawaii’s second largest volcano, erupted from September 2021 until last December. A 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed more than 700 homes.