United States - December 24, 2024 HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, HAWAI‘I – Kīlauea burst into dramatic activity early this morning, December 23, as lava fountains up to 260 feet high lit up Halemaʻumaʻu and the summit caldera. The eruption began at 2:20 a.m. HST following elevated earthquake activity detected just 20 minutes earlier. By 5:30 a.m., the lava flow had covered approximately 400 acres of the caldera floor. Video captured from the west rim of Kaluapele showcases the fiery display within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, where hazardous volcanic gases forced USGS field staff to use gas masks. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has raised Kīlauea’s alert level to WARNING and the aviation color code to RED as it monitors the eruption’s progression and associated risks.