News Release

Chain of Craters temporarily closed due to heightened activity

Date: September 16, 2024
Contact: e-mail us, 808-985-6010

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi – Kīlauea is not erupting, but Chain of Craters Road is closed to all use due to heightened gas emissions and volcanic unrest. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has raised the hazard alert level from Advisory to Watch. 

According to HVO, “The intrusion of magma that began Saturday, September 14, in Kīlauea’s middle East Rift Zone, continues, increasing the potential of an eruption in this region. Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is raising the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from ADVISORY to WATCH and the Aviation Color Code from YELLOW to ORANGE.     

Current activity is taking place in a remote area of Kīlauea’s middle East Rift Zone, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. No changes have been detected in the lower East Rift Zone, or Southwest Rift Zone.” 
 
The park will continue to monitor Chain of Craters Road and will reopen when it is safe to do so. Park visitors are urged to plan ahead and check the park website for any closure or hazard alerts at www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes.  

-NPS-