Pu’o O’o crater floor collapses, opening up new vent and starting spectacular eruption

A new vent opened Saturday at Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, in a remote location at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Pu’o O’o crater floor collapsed by at least 377 feet, generating a huge ash cloud and a lava fountain that shot lava up to 100 feet into the air. The fissure is located about a mile southwest of Pu’o O’o crater and grew to 1.4 miles on Sunday.

This latest eruption resembles one in 1997 when the Pu’o O’o crater floor collapsed and a fissure eruption started. The eruption back then lasted less than 24 hours, while Saturday’s eruption is already taking longer. According to scientists, it takes about one or two days to see if the lava supply has been cut off by the fissure eruption.

Trails near the current eruption are closed because the area near the vent can erupt or collapse without warning. Rocks and lava can fly several hundred yards and ash and potentially lethal sulfur-laden volcanic smog can travel about half-mile downwind. The popular Chain of Craters Road and all east rift zone and coastal trails have been closed until further notice.