The Kilauea volcano, one of the most active in the world, returned to activity on Monday, spewing columns of lava 80 meters above Hawaii.
One of the world's most active volcanoes returned to activity on Monday, spewing columns of lava 80 meters above Hawaii, US volcanologists reported.
The images showed huge fissures in the Kilauea caldera on the Big Island of Hawaii, spewing jets of molten rock into the air.
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaii Volcano Observatory said the eruption began shortly after 2 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) in the southwestern section of the caldera.
“At 4:30 a.m., lava fountains with heights of up to 80 meters (262 feet) were observed,” the agency said.
“Molten material, including lava bombs, is being blown by winds at the bottom of the caldera toward the west edge of the caldera.”
The eruption was also sending matter much higher into the atmosphere.
“The plume of volcanic gas and fine volcanic particles is reaching heights of 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level… and is being transported southwestward by winds,” the observatory said.
The observatory said the sulfur dioxide emanating from the fissure would react with other gases in the atmosphere.
The so-called vog (volcanic smog) can affect people and animals, as well as crops.
Kilauea has been very active since 1983 and erupts relatively regularly, including most recently in September.
It is one of six active volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands, which include Mauna Loa, the largest volcano in the world, although Kilauea is much more active.