Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has entered a striking new phase during its ongoing eruption, producing three lava fountains of roughly equal size and reaching heights surpassing 1,200 feet for the first time in this activity cycle, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). During the 38th eruptive episode, officials noted that all three vents are actively ejecting lava. The southern vent now drives fountains that approach 1,200 feet (about 370 meters) high, while the northern vents have diminished from an earlier peak of around 500 feet (roughly 150 meters). Previously, the scene featured three fountains of similar magnitude centered around 500 feet, with two from the northern vents and one from the southern vent. Experts described this triple-fountain phenomenon as exceptionally uncommon and the first of its kind observed in the current eruption. Kilauea, one of the planet’s most active volcanoes, sits on the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island.
