Toddler narrowly escapes cliff fall during ongoing Kilauea eruption, Hawai’i
Kilauea volcano in Hawai’i has resumed its eruptive activity after a second pause on December 26, 2024, with lava flows confined to the Halema’uma’u region. Park officials urged caution after a toddler narrowly avoided a fatal fall from a 120 m (400 feet) cliff while visiting the site on December 23.
Live view of Kīlauea, from the northwest rim at 11:09 UTC on December 28. Image credit: USGS
Kilauea volcano continues its periodic eruptive activity with fresh lava flows observed within the Halema’uma’u region, as of December 28, 2024.
Low-level lava effusion resumed at approximately 08:00 LT (18:00 UTC) on December 26 following a second pause on Christmas morning. Weak lava flows have since remained confined to the southwestern portion of the summit.
Seismic activity at the summit remains low with just 2 small earthquakes recorded.
Elevated sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions persist and create a visible gas plume rising above the summit. Summit tiltmeters indicate gradual inflation suggesting continued magma accumulation beneath the surface.
The current eruption began early on December 23 at approximately 02:20 LT (12:20 UTC) following increased seismic activity and rapid summit deformation detected around 02:00 LT (12:00 UTC).
A toddler visiting Kilauea with family narrowly avoided falling off a 120 m (400 feet) cliff near the Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook during the initial eruption. The child ran toward the edge while his family admired the lava glow at sunset. His mother managed to grab him just a meter (3 feet) from the precipice.
“National parks showcase nature’s splendor, but they are not playgrounds. Your safety is our utmost concern,” Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh reminded visitors.
The family was reportedly behind a restricted area beyond a post-and-cable barrier. Officials urge visitors to stay on marked trails and remain vigilant mainly with children.
Lava fountains erupted from vents on the southwestern side of Halema’uma’u and reached heights of nearly 91 m (300 feet). The lava spread over 2.6 km2 (1 mi2) of the floor covering about 25% of the Kaluapele summit area.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red and the Volcano Alert Level to Warning by 04:30 LT (14:30 UTC). SO2 emissions during this initial phase exceeded 90 000 tonnes per day but decreased as the activity slowed.
The eruption briefly paused around 16:00 LT (02:00 UTC on December 24) after lava flows drained back into the eruptive vents. The phenomenon is known as a “drainback” and has been observed in previous eruptions including during the 1959 Kilauea Iki event.
After activity resumed on the morning of December 24, the eruption entered a second pause on Christmas morning, December 25, before low-level lava effusion briefly resumed at 08:00 LT (18:00 UTC) on December 26.
The eruption resumed again around 17:45 LT (03:45 UTC on December 27), with lava fountains producing sluggish flows confined near the active vents though reduced in vigor. Volcanologists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) report ongoing inflation at the summit signaling potential for continued activity.
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The eruption marks the 3rd eruption of Kilauea in 2024 with each occurring in distinct regions of the volcano. The earlier eruptions took place in the Southwest Rift Zone in June and the East Rift Zone in September.
Kilauea had periods of activity throughout 2024, from September 15 to October 17. Fissures in the middle East Rift Zone produced lava flows covering approximately 0.63 km2 (0.24 mi2). During this phase, SO2 emissions peaked at 10 000 tonnes per day, and lava effusion rates ranged between 5 and 15 m3 (176 to 530 feet3) per second.
Eruptive activity paused on October 17, and by September 23, alert levels were downgraded as seismicity and magma movement subsided.
Kīlauea’s eruptions are part of its long history of frequent volcanic activity, with over 74 confirmed eruptive periods during the Holocene. Main events include the prolonged East Rift Zone eruption from 1983 to 2018, which generated lava flows covering over 100 km2 (38 mi2), destroyed numerous homes, and expanded Hawai’i’s coastline.
Kīlauea is a basaltic shield volcano overlapping the eastern flank of Mauna Loa with a 3 x 5 km (1.9 x 3.1 miles) caldera that formed around 1 500 years ago. Its surface consists of lava flows younger than 600 years. The volcano is situated in an intraplate oceanic crust setting less than 15 km (9.3 miles) thick.
Ongoing hazards include elevated levels of volcanic gases, like SO2 and CO2, which can pose health risks to children and those with respiratory conditions. Other risks include rockfalls, ground cracking, and potential instability of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater walls.
Residents and visitors are advised to minimize exposure to volcanic smog (vog).
References:
1 Kilauea volcano – USGS/HVO – Issued at 04:51 UTC on December 28, 2024
2 Officials urge caution after toddler nearly falls from 400-foot cliff while family visits erupting Kīlauea volcano – CBS NEWS – December 27, 2024
3 Kilauea – GVP – Accessed on December 23, 2024
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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