EXPLAINER: Fountaining Hawaii lava creates molten rock lake
ABC News
Kilauea, one of the most active volcanos on Earth, began erupting on Hawaii’s Big Island Wednesday
HONOLULU -- Kilauea, one of the most active volcanos on Earth, began erupting on Hawaii’s Big Island Wednesday. The eruption is not in an area with homes and is entirely contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Officials said increased earthquake activity and ground swelling before the eruption put them on high alert. Fissures then opened in the summit area and sent lava fountaining into the sky. Now the area has filled with molten rock, creating a lake of lava in the volcano's crater.
The new lava is an expected evolution of a volcano that is recharging after a huge eruption in 2018 drained much of its magma.
The 2018 eruption destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of residents. But experts say this latest eruption is not expected to flow into residential areas.
