United States - December 23, 2025 On December 23, 2025, Kilauea volcano erupted with spectacular force, sending lava fountains soaring hundreds of meters into the sky. By 9:45 PM local time, the southern lava fountain reached a height of 1,400 feet (426 meters), while the northern fountain peaked at 920 feet (over 280 meters) shortly after 9:00 PM before dropping to 700 feet (over 214 meters) just before 10:00 PM. The eruption was so intense that it disabled one of the live observation cameras at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, according to scientists monitoring the volcano. Kilauea, the youngest terrestrial volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, is also the most active volcano in the world. It stands at 1,247 meters tall and has a history of dramatic eruptions. Its largest recorded eruption occurred in 1959, when lava fountains rose to 600 meters above the lava lake. The December 23 eruption adds to Kilauea’s reputation for extreme volcanic activity, captivating both scientists and the public with its raw power.