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Gallery: Latest fountain of lava breaks record at Hawaiian volcano

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FOX Local
Environment
Published June 3, 2026 10:03 PM EDT
Published June 3, 2026 10:03 PM EDT
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In the early morning hours of June 1, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported to Uēkahuna to watch the beginning of Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. The fountaining episode began at 4:40 a.m. HST and by the time the

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The Brief

    • Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano set a record Monday with its 48th fountaining.
    • The volcano has been erupting off-and-on since December 2024.
    • The USGS recently shared video and images of the recent fountaining.

When lava shot into the air at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, the fountaining set a new record for the volcano which has been erupting for more than a year.

Big picture view:

The volcano has been erupting off-and-on since December 2024, and this was the 48th time it produced a fountain of lava since it started, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. A spokesperson for the observatory, Katie Mulliken, explained that it is the most episodes ever recorded for a single eruption at that volcano. 

Videos and images shared by the U.S. Geological Survey showed recent fountaining events.

Image 1 of 6
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This photo of the Halema‘uma‘u north vent lava fountain was captured shortly after sunrise on June 1, 2026, around the time that activity was peaking during Kīlauea summit eruption fountaining episode 48. Preliminary estimates indicate that the lava fountain reached at least 500 feet (150 meters) in height during the episode. Most tephra was falling within the crater and immediately adjacent on the rim, but some lighter particles were lofted higher and greater distances downwind. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. (Courtesy: USGS)

Dig deeper:

Kilauea, which is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has not been spewing lava consistently since the eruption began. Fountaining episodes happen between periods in which no lava breaks through. However, because the lava is coming through the same vents in Kilauea’s summit, it is considered the same eruption.

The other side:

Mulliken added that this eruption is especially notable because the location is so accessible for people who want to come and see it. The previous record-holding eruption happened over a three-and-a-half year span but was in a more remote area.

The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.


 

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