#Pauahi Crater

Earthquake activity has increased in Kīlauea’s middle East Rift Zone, near Makaopuhi Crater. Ground deformation patterns west (uprift) of Puʻuʻōʻō suggest that another intrusive event could be occurring in this region, but scientists with the Hawaiʻi Volcano Observatory say Kīlauea is not erupting at this time.

An intrusion is an injection of magma into rock, that causes ground deformation and seismicity but does not result in an eruption.

Elevated rates of ground deformation at Kīlauea Volcano’s middle East Rift Zone continue following the June 22–25 upper East Rift Zone intrusion within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Recent unrest has been restricted to Kīlauea’s upper and middle East Rift Zone within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park; no unusual activity has been noted east of Puʻuʻōʻō, along Kīlauea’s lower East Rift Zone, or in the Southwest Rift Zone at this time, the HVO reports.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is reporting an “abrupt increase” in seismic activity recently in the upper East Rift Zone of Kīlauea.

Earthquake and ground deformation rates in Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone decreased significantly following a “burst of intense activity” at approximately 3:30 a.m. HST on July 23, 2024. Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has lowered the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW.     

This past week, earthquakes and inflation near Kīlauea’s summit prompted temporary closures within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. What is happening beneath the surface at Kīlauea, and what does it mean for potential future eruptive activity? 

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued an information statement on Thursday night saying the summit region of Kīlauea is currently experiencing heightened unrest, but no eruptive activity.