Ten-meter lava fountains and thousands of tons of toxic gas: a volcano erupts in Hawaii (video).

On Thursday, January 16, the Kilauea volcano entered its fourth eruption episode, ejecting lava fountains dozens of meters into the air and releasing thousands of tons of toxic volcanic gas. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is broadcasting the eruption live, reports Live Science.

Thousands of people have already tuned in to the live stream, which focuses on the northwestern edge of the Kilauea caldera—a basin-like area at the summit of the volcano. Researchers note that the eruption remains confined to the caldera today, within the restricted area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. However, Kilauea is producing high levels of volcanic gas, including sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which can have far-reaching effects due to wind.

According to researchers, since sulfur dioxide is continuously released from the summit during the eruption, it will react in the atmosphere, creating a visible haze known as volcanic smog. However, this is not the only danger; others include instability of the crater walls, ground cracking, and rockfalls within the restricted zone.

The volcano began erupting in the morning, ejecting lava and other materials—observations show that lava fountains occasionally reached 80 meters. Molten material, including lava bombs, is being expelled from vents at the bottom of the caldera towards the western edge of the caldera, within the restricted area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

According to the US Geological Survey, the volcano is one of the most active in the world and has been erupting almost continuously for over 30 years. Researchers note that this active volcano is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and covers about 14% of its area, rising 1,227 meters above sea level.

Today, researchers are monitoring the summit of the volcano in real-time using webcams. In some cases, the cameras are recording in areas that are closed to the public, as they are currently off-limits for visitation.

Scientists indicate that the eruption is currently limited to the summit area, and as of the morning of January 17, it has stabilized within the crater and is unlikely to pose a threat to infrastructure.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory of the USGS has lowered the alert level for Kilauea from "Warning" to "Watch." However, the USGS noted that the volcanic gas produced as a result of the eruption still poses a danger.