Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano set a new record on Monday after producing its 48th lava fountaining episode since its eruption began in December 2024. The volcano is on Hawaii’s Big Island and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said this is the highest number of lava fountaining episodes recorded during a single eruption at Kilauea. Katie Mulliken, a geologist and spokesperson for the observatory, explained that the episodes are still part of the same eruption because the lava is coming from the same vents in a crater at the volcano’s summit.
The eruption has been unusual because many residents and tourists have been able to view it more easily than past eruptions. In the 1980s, another Kilauea eruption had 47 lava fountaining episodes over about three and a half years, but it happened in a more remote area.
The current eruption is also changing the shape of the land at the summit. However, the lava fountains can affect nearby communities because they may send volcanic fragments and ash, called tephra, into surrounding areas.
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