United States - February 21, 2025 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii—Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano roared to life with a jaw-dropping 400-foot lava fountain, the latest spectacle in its relentless weeks-long eruption cycle, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Dubbed "Episode 10" of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption, the fiery outburst began at 8:22 p.m. HST on Wednesday, unleashing molten fury within Halemaʻumaʻu Caldera, only to subside by 9:18 a.m. Thursday after a fleeting 13-hour rampage. The USGS reported that seismic tremors surged as lava flows burst onto the crater floor, with the molten tide swallowing 75% of Halemaʻumaʻu’s southern expanse within Kaluapele, Kilauea’s caldera. Video evidence from the national park captured the north vent hurling lava skyward, feeding a chaotic web of glowing streams between 300 and 400 feet high. This fiery chapter, erupting since December 23, 2024, follows a pattern of brief, explosive episodes—each lasting roughly 13 hours, punctuated by eerie pauses ranging from a day to nearly two weeks. For thrill-seekers at Volcanoes National Park, the on-and-off eruptions have delivered breathtaking views from a safe distance. Yet, the National Park Service warns of a sinister side: volcanic gases like sulfur dioxide, spewed amid the chaos, pose a lethal risk to those with heart or lung conditions. Daily air quality alerts track the invisible threat, while an Orange aviation alert signals minor ash hazards lurking in the skies above. Kilauea’s dance of destruction continues, mesmerizing and menacing in equal measure.