Red warning was issued for Hawaii's volcanoes as visitors swarm there to witness the stunning Mount Kilauea eruption

On Wednesday morning, at about 4:45 a.m. local time, the Mount Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted. A full-scale eruption was about to occur, according to the United States Geological Survey, which saw an uptick in seismic activity on Tuesday.

On Hawaii's Big Island, Kilauea is located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is the second-largest volcano in the state and one of the most active in the world, standing at 4,091 feet. According to estimates, the molten red lava lake is about 4,300 feet wide and can be seen within the park from a distance of several miles.

The world's tallest volcano, Mauna Loa, which is 13,677 feet in height, is also located within the national park.

"Eruptions' initial stages are dynamic. A representative for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that webcam images reveal fissures near the Halemaumau crater's base producing lava flows on the bottom of the crater.

Due to the potential impact volcanic ash in the sky could have on flights, the USGS issued a red aviation alert following the eruption. Despite the precaution, it is not anticipated that the eruption would pose a risk to the general population.

According to the USGS, there are "no signs of activity migrating out of the summit region." However, the red aviation warning will continue until a thorough investigation of the activities has been conducted. 

Tourists are anticipated to pour into the park in droves to see the impressive natural occurrence. To prevent the harmful gases produced from the volcano during its eruption, the park encourages visitors to stick to designated trails and stay away from blocked regions. Information on how to watch the eruption safely is available on the National Park Service website.

To escape the anticipated crowds, you should visit the park between 9 p.m. and sunrise if you intend to see the eruption. Every day of the year, the park is open twenty-four hours a day.

The most recent eruption of Kilauea occurred in January and lasted 61 days. From December 2020 to May 2021 and again from September 2021 to December 2022, eruptions took place earlier. 

Hundreds of residences on the southeast part of the Big Island were completely destroyed by the slow-moving lava flood that resulted from the volcano's 2018 eruption.