Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, erupted again on Saturday (22), releasing jets of lava that flowed down the slope of its crater, on the Big Island of Hawaii. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), this is the 37th eruption recorded since December 2024, maintaining the pattern of recurring activity observed in recent years.
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From early evening, videos and photos began spreading across social media, showing the lava advancing in a continuous stream and lighting up the surrounding landscape. In the recordings, it is possible to see the material descending very quickly, a phenomenon that enhances the intensity of the new eruption phase.
Kilauea has been experiencing regular activity for about 40 years, and due to its special dynamics, it is one of the symbols of the Hawaiian archipelago. Located about 320 kilometers south of Honolulu, Hawaii’s capital, the volcano is characterized by its extensive structure and fluidity of lava, which explains the formation of long glowing rivers like the one recorded this weekend.
Part of Kilauea overlaps the eastern side of Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world. In January, researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa determined that they both share part of the same magma source in the archipelago’s hot spot, known as a mantle plume. The study suggests that this deep connection could feed both Kilauea and Mauna Loa, although each also has its own reservoirs.
Kilauea’s formation period is estimated to have been between 210,000 and 280,000 years ago, but its emergence above sea level occurred about 100,000 years ago. Hawaiian tradition credits the crater as the home of the goddess Pele, a central figure in local mythology associated with the creative and destructive power of fire.
The longest documented volcanic eruption occurred from 1983 to 2018, a period during which lava flows destroyed large areas, destroying two cities in 1990 and burying a famous black sand beach. So far, local authorities have not reported significant damage related to the new ring.