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Authorities are closely watching an eruption that started Sunday night at Kilauea’s Halemaumau Crater, sending plumes of smoke into the air and prompting concerns about ashfall.
It was not immediately known if there were any wider threats.
In an update on its website, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the situation is “rapidly evolving” and urged communities on or near Kilauea’s summit and rift zones to “be prepared.”
HVO acting Scientist-in-Charge David Phillips said the observatory is closely monitor the volcano.
Photos of the eruption that were shared on verified social media accounts for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park showed a bright orange glow with thick smoke rising into the sky.
Officials say the eruption began around 9:30 p.m.
By 1 a.m., USGS officials reported lava fountains that shot about 165 feet into the sky were feeding a growing lava lake within the crater. They said a fissure in the north west wall of the crater was highly active. The lake replaced the water that was once seen in the deepest part of the crater.
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