U.S. Hawaii volcano spews 80-meter lava fountains in dramatic eruption

A volcano in the U.S. state of Hawaii has fired fountains of lava some 80 meters into the air in a dramatic eruption on the Big Island, filling its crater with glowing molten rock.

The latest eruption of Kilauea volcano, one of the most active in the world, began early Monday and was limited to a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, according to a local observatory of the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

According to the USGS, the volcano fired out partially molten "lava bombs" from its vents, fragments of lava measuring wider than 6 centimeters that are ejected in explosive eruptions, along with the fountains measuring up to 80 meters.

The volcanic eruption ejected a plume of gas including sulfur dioxide and fine volcanic particles that reached up to 2,440 meters altitude, which the USGS said on Monday was the primary concern.

(Cover: A new eruption within the summit caldera of Kilauea, Kaluapele on Hawaii's Big Island, December 23, 2024. /CFP)