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Hawaii's Kilauea sees 52nd eruption episode, creates towering 500-foot lava fountains

Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and this is its 52nd eruptive episode since December 23, 2024.

By Julian Atienza
Source FOX Weather

Watch: Kilauea spews lava during 52nd eruptive episode

Kilauea spews lava during 52nd eruptive episode on July 28, 2026.

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii — Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted Tuesday night after a brief nap, sending lava hundreds of feet into the sky.

The eruption began shortly before 7:30 p.m. local time, according to USGS. Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and this is its 52nd eruptive episode since December 23, 2024. 

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Kilauea's 52 eruptive episode on Jul 28, 2026. (USGS)

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The 48th episode of the Mount Kīlauea Volcano.  (@USGSVolcanoes / X)

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The 44th eruption of Mount Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii. (USGS / YouTube)

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HAWAII, USA - JANUARY 17: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'USGS/ K. Lynn. / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) A view of the two vents erupting in the southwest part of Halemaumau Crater in Kaluapele (Kilauea summit caldera) at approximately 6 a.m. HST on January 16, 2025 in Hawaii, United States. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists in the field this morning measured the lava fountains as reaching approximately 60 meters (197 feet) high. Lava fountains are feeding lava flows that are active in Halemaumau in the southwest part of the caldera. (K. Lynn/USGS/Anadolu)

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A Hawaii Volcano Observatory camera shows the Kilauea caldera after the volcano began erupting on June 7, 2023. (Image: USGS) ( )

Lava fountains have reached a peak of 500 feet in this latest episode.

Volcano officials said this eruption, like all recent eruptions, is expected to be confined to the Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

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Volcanic gas that's released during eruptions can impact people downwind, particularly those with respiratory issues or other sensitive populations.

Kilauea's 51st eruption ended on July 15, after spewing lava for more than 8 hours, according to USGS. 

This period of frequent activity at Kiluea is being driven by magma chambers that are quickly refilling within the volcano. These short eruptions have not been strong enough to dramatically change the pressure in these chambers, which have reached something of an equilibrium.

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"Since the ongoing eruption began in December of 2024, there has been little overall change in the amount of pressurization of the magma chambers beneath Kīlauea summit," the USGS said in a FAQ report on Kilauea.

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