HONOLULU (AP) — Towering lava fountains from Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island surged to an estimated 1,000 feet (300 meters) on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, forcing temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a partial shutdown of Highway 11. Officials opened an emergency shelter for residents and tourists, but no one had used it shortly after it opened, county spokesperson Tom Callis said.
The eruption, now in its 43rd fountaining episode since it began in December 2024, has been a spectacular yet disruptive display. The bright‑red lava streams rose from the summit crater inside the national park, while ash and volcanic fragments—collectively known as tephra—rained down on surrounding communities and the highway that circles the island’s southern flank.
Because of the falling tephra, park officials temporarily closed areas around the summit and sealed off both sides of Highway 11, a vital transportation corridor for locals and visitors. “The tephra prompted temporary closures at the national park around the summit and a partial closure of Highway 11,” the Associated Press report noted.
Hawaii County also opened a shelter at a district gymnasium to accommodate anyone displaced by the road shutdown or the ash fallout. “There were no people using the shelter soon after it opened,” Callis told reporters.
The National Weather Service issued an ashfall warning for the region, warning that the fine volcanic particles can irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system. County officials added that tephra can clog water catchment systems that many island residents rely on for drinking water.
Earlier fountaining episodes have sometimes lasted only a few hours, while others have persisted for days. This latest surge appears to be part of the ongoing, on‑and‑off eruption that has been active for more than a year, but officials said it is unclear how long this particular episode will continue.
Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has so far confined its molten rock to the summit crater, sparing homes and businesses from direct lava flow. Nevertheless, the fallout of ash and fragments continues to pose health and infrastructure challenges for nearby communities.