Hawaii Volcanoes National Park shuttered its gates Thursday as Kilauea, one of Earth's most relentless volcanic systems, roared back to life on the Big Island.
The eruption began after 11 a.m. local time, with lava fountains blasting more than 200 meters into the air, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. By evening, livestream cameras captured the volcano's raw power: plumes of smoke and cascading lava flowing down the mountainside.
The initial burst has already expelled 3.6 million cubic yards of molten rock. The closure of the national park underscores the hazard posed by Kilauea's volatile activity, which ranks among the world's most frequent eruptions.
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