Kīlauea's Lava Fountains Exceed 1,000 Feet in Latest Eruption

[{"selector":"#anim-b1c25a63-6a4f-4425-be5b-722cbce36e1e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93147736-9a69-4769-a6df-ca3209a1cc04","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72ec16fb-560c-4f70-94ef-6ae95f7fed9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-977daa21-6447-47d9-8b15-8b10b0390616","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kīlauea's Lava Fountains Exceed 1,000 Feet in Latest Eruption Karmactive Staff

Kilauea volcano erupted on May 25, creating a fiery spectacle with lava fountains soaring over 1,000 feet high – the tallest in this eruption series.

[{"selector":"#anim-664e1456-37d5-4e41-9ed3-0f6edbfd66a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b91225c9-52f4-434c-b321-df14b37a0bc3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bba3bfad-bd70-40a3-bc2a-ff8c9fd52ac7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99945771-a3a2-42f0-b940-b7c273b57d29","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10db6e59-67bc-4661-a084-ea4d8ec08d0c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

Within just 30 minutes of starting, the eruption transformed from small lava jets to massive towers of molten rock, leaving witnesses speechless.

[{"selector":"#anim-68cd7d3e-018f-4ae2-8793-85e0694ef041","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89316ab5-fc4e-4264-985e-b0cfe7b6867d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.7807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f84726f-50b0-4447-9953-0f8583eb4fe3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b36c3112-6313-4653-a83c-c589eb56507b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff2c0a96-a74c-4237-a399-a85a622ddd37","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

"Straight out of a movie" – that's how former Big Island resident Harlan Petrowski described the breathtaking display that drew crowds rushing to viewpoints.

[{"selector":"#anim-e4a46c21-05b5-4078-8b0c-2112c317dc25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b52122d3-918c-4dae-9aa5-ce811de6a05f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f885443-8b97-4da4-8ea2-1c495c2e9a59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-191754b2-d373-45a1-9a83-c2e01772d9e5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fcc9d5a-9240-4550-8fd7-30c55a6242c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

Scientists recorded sulfur dioxide emissions skyrocketing to 75,000 tonnes per day during the eruption – compared to just 1,200 tonnes during quiet periods.

[{"selector":"#anim-209b3661-e570-4a5c-a555-4c28fca7159e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee5eca74-870f-4349-bb95-1bb0df5aad53","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.7807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2a06ae8-ccc6-4a33-8b49-37b8548289e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-980d3f8a-662b-446d-bb84-a919efc5b951","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f992e1f0-7efe-4747-8766-1805825b24ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

The volcanic plume climbed at least 5,000 feet into the air, carrying dangerous fragments of volcanic glass called "Pele's hair" that can irritate skin, eyes, and lungs.

[{"selector":"#anim-d6ee121e-2e49-4327-9187-7fc5ec6e5ddd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c483d061-b15b-44b9-b4cd-be99758375d7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1249823d-952f-48b5-bbbb-3a6e056015c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d4c8bd1-5fb3-498d-96ca-7f75adef269d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8e68571-9adf-4c0c-a56e-e22ee32146d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

How close did the lava get to homes? Unlike the destructive 2018 eruption, this activity remained safely contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

[{"selector":"#anim-03bccac9-97c7-467b-86d7-10f2980485f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b4f98e5-f760-487c-ac20-ea377c382c02","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.7807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4f5d2fa-75a0-45d2-9caa-c7e38e2d32e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-edf9ac00-d8fd-41e8-934a-0978256c2d8b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ccc6b53-34a1-400d-8795-0bd586eb0361","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

"I was hugging strangers, people were crying, singing songs, FaceTiming families across the world," said witness Kurry Wong about the emotional impact of seeing the eruption.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f9aba37-a8f5-4c4e-ad86-a7fc057b8fc6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44604ef6-6bca-402d-b19c-293b85cd9473","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0678023c-9dea-4523-b67d-4cb317a93622","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd51d00b-fd42-41da-8ae2-48588b1762de","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-799e21ff-eb4f-42bf-ab6c-69bc5865d0b5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

What makes this eruption special? It's the 23rd episode since December 2024, but the first with fountains reaching the 1,000-foot mark – truly "one for the history books."

[{"selector":"#anim-092b4d54-0f0e-45be-aec9-9e6595688462","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4ea4b04-22e2-44fe-9e4d-f38516a6a289","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.48198%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-903ec818-f4bd-40ee-bed6-9e1083a445f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef41d2d5-451d-4e86-8d9c-7375ae07279a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6280160c-48d7-4ae8-bb39-d1b1a3f51ab8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

The ground around Kilauea actually swelled before deflating during the eruption, with sensitive instruments measuring 13 microradians of movement as magma shifted underground.

[{"selector":"#anim-d6d3b760-c690-4fa5-81cf-3870f0e7fe6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18f800ec-244b-4a6c-97cc-ea2c98adcc92","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a96bd153-4efc-4f35-b81a-b1addf503afd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a87cbc96-4710-48b6-a65f-ccc22b6651a2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5f6bb85-9f37-4d49-b3ed-ba76429b53de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

Vog (volcanic smog) from the eruption can travel far from the volcano, causing breathing problems and creating hazy conditions miles away from the eruption site.

[{"selector":"#anim-178d0d4b-3a0a-44a3-9ddf-0a8f66b3fd45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6a171b9-a548-4442-91c3-740d3f609b0e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 164.43004%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0803f0ba-5bf7-47fb-ae73-1b146485294d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8e88b3a-a671-48cd-b0ec-f81a726af631","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dca7ccb6-87dc-4639-a8ea-7849cd04da33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

How important is this achievement? Project leader Xu Hongjie stated they "seized the tortoise's chance" in the global nuclear race—slow but steady progress winning in the end.

[{"selector":"#anim-cda41858-42fa-454b-8d8c-015bf5e80045","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0ad01c5-f9d9-4fc2-8300-df53914d6db9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b1ee000-8375-4bba-9ef4-e1c6452fab30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a682349f-6faa-4bcf-bc27-57dd4c85c9e3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b278334d-5201-49db-9196-0a36330c0886","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

Six hours after it began, the spectacular show ended – but volcano experts say Kilauea is just taking a break, with magma still lurking near the surface.

[{"selector":"#anim-40898d96-7768-4846-ae34-ef179d384eb7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff23cfc8-7dfc-4a57-819d-3d0ccf93529f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 164.43004%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3438c41-c6fc-4f4b-8d39-ac222d4a60c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6426025-0d78-4fb9-a5ba-4da4dc243e68","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fafc4d26-e2eb-4fd6-9bba-c3f6579f22d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey Learn more

When will Kilauea erupt again? Scientists expect another dramatic display within days or weeks as pressure builds beneath Hawaii's most active volcano.

[{"selector":"#anim-2d6d6344-e740-40ce-97b4-4ea9e9bb96cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac283bf6-44d4-4911-99b1-2da183059943","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-589a4bc5-b689-418a-8658-641d8e998b8b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23e89316-6b5f-4164-8915-ae757086dd06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffc0223e-385a-40df-b664-1326b03154fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Geological Survey

[{"selector":"#anim-4855accb-84d9-4b90-b86d-fa151a2126ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db00be68-4036-43b1-bb3b-db44c6e9e4b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe46e7df-44b3-4c4b-ab14-7d9ec5d53659","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e6f4dbe-8a74-49e3-b63c-874caf7e2d80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a4c4b9d-e124-453d-8a2e-8b0f2e5b268b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Earth's Oxygen Levels to Collapse in 1 Billion Years Learn more