Overwhelmed by the sight of Kilauea volcano spewing lava over 300m high

Video of Kilauea volcano lava erupting more than 300m high - Source: BIG ISLAND VIDEO NEWS

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has created giant lava fountains - something not seen in about 40 years, according to LiveScience on May 29.

On May 25, Kilauea erupted with several lava fountains more than 300 meters high. The USGS estimates that when erupting like that, Kilauea also releases about 75,000 tons of toxic sulfur dioxide (SO ₂ ) per day.

According to the USGS, these are a major hazard to worry about because they can have far-reaching impacts downwind.

_SO2 released from volcanoes can mix with other gases and molecules in the atmosphere to create volcanic smog. People who breathe this smog in high concentrations can experience respiratory problems and other health problems, such as eye and skin irritation.

There are also other problems associated with volcanic activity, including volcanic glass fibers, also known as Pele's hair, which are blown by the wind. Contact with these can cause skin and eye irritation.

Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world , and has been erupting continuously on the Big Island of Hawaii for more than 30 years. The volcano covers about 14% of the island's area, and is 1,227m above sea level.

The latest eruption was determined to have occurred at Halema'uma'u Crater - located at the summit of Kilauea, and believed to be home to the Fire Goddess Pele. This is Halema'uma'u's 23rd eruption since December 23, 2024.

In a May 27 update, the USGS compared the eruption to the historic Pu'u'ō'ō eruption on the east Kilauea fault zone.

Pu'u'ō'ō began erupting lava in 1983 and continued until 2018. In the early years, Pu'u'ō'ō also recorded lava fountains as high as those at Halema'uma'u today.