Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts after nearly two months of dormancy

HONOLULU (AP) — Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, began erupting Sunday after a two-month hiatus, showing glowing lava a safe distance from people and structures in a Big Island national park.

The Hawaii Volcano Observatory said the eruption was observed at the summit of Kilauea in the afternoon.

The observatory said gases released by the eruption would cause volcanic smog downwind of Kilauea. People living near the park should try to avoid volcanic particles thrown into the air by the eruption, the observatory said.

As scientists assess the eruption and associated dangers, the volcano’s alert level has been raised to warning status and its aviation color code has changed to red.

In June, Kilauea erupted for several weeks, producing fountains of red lava without endangering any communities or structures. Crowds of people flocked to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, which offered a safe view of the lava.

Kilauea, Hawaii’s second largest volcano, erupted from September 2021 until last December. A 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed more than 700 homes.