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Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Erupts With Massive 720-Foot Lava Fountains
M
Moneycontrol•19-10-2026, 13:19
Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Erupts With Massive 720-Foot Lava Fountains
- •Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted for its 55th lava-fountaining episode on October 17, sending molten lava soaring up to 720 feet into the air.
- •The intense eruption lasted nearly six hours, marking a return to high-activity levels after a break of almost two months.
- •The volcanic plume reached about 25,000 feet above sea level, carrying volcanic gases and tephra into the atmosphere.
- •The US Geological Survey reported that the eruption paused by October 18, prompting officials to lower the alert level to advisory.
Key Questions Answered
According to the USGS, the 55th lava-fountaining episode began at 3:19 am local time on October 17, 2026, and ended abruptly at 9:03 am.
The molten lava fountains soared up to 720 feet above the summit crater, while the accompanying volcanic plume reached about 25,000 feet above sea level.
The summit eruption paused, prompting the USGS to lower the volcano's alert level to advisory and change the aviation color code to yellow while scientists monitor for future activity.
