Kilauea Awakens, Forces Closures

Kilauea is back in action, hurling lava hundreds of feet into the air on Hawaii's Big Island and forcing the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a nearby highway on Thursday. The volcano's 44th eruptive episode—predicted in advance, per the New York Post—began around 11am local time, with columns of smoke and flowing lava later visible on a livestream. Reports indicated lava fountaining at Halemaumau Crater at Kilauea's summit. The US Geological Survey estimates some 3.6 million cubic yards of lava have been released so far, per the Guardian.

The National Park Service urged anyone in the area to cover up and use eye protection to limit contact with ash, sharp volcanic fragments known as tephra, and thin glass fibers known as Pele's Hair, per the Guardian and Fox Weather. Both tephra and Pele's Hair were reported outside the closure area, per Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Though the park shut its gates Thursday, the entrance later reopened along with certain sections. Highway 11 has also reopened. Lava fountaining stopped after about 9 hours, the Star-Advertiser reports. NPS notes that some "volcanic-related safety closures" remain in place.