Expect temporary area closures if volcanic unrest continues in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

News Release Date:
July 1, 2024

Contact:Jessica Ferracane, 808-985-6018

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi - Kīlauea volcano is not erupting, but a sudden spike in earthquakes began over the weekend southeast of the summit in the vicinity of Chain of Craters Road between Puhimau and Luamanu craters.

Over the past day, the seismic activity has moved closer to the summit between Keanakākoʻi and Koʻokoʻolau craters in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. According to USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), 350 earthquakes were detected over the last 24 hours, with the largest a magnitude-3.4 event at a depth of 1.2 miles (2 km) at 5:39 a.m. HST.

There are no park closures related to the seismic swarm at this time. Temporary area closures could occur if seismicity increases. If an eruption occurs, visitors should expect the eruption site to close immediately while the park assesses if safe access is possible.

According to HVO, there are no signs of an imminent eruption, but any substantial increase in seismicity and/or deformation could result in a new eruptive episode. Magma has been repressurizing the storage system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu following the short-lived June 3, 2024 eruption near the upper Southwest Rift Zone.

Visitors should plan ahead and check the park website for updates.

-NPS-

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 429 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.