Kilauea volcano alert raised to orange due to underground activity

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has raised the warning level for ground-based hazards at Kilauea volcano from “advisory” to “watch” and the aviation color code from yellow to orange.

Scientists said today that Kilauea is not erupting, but that increased seismic activity and ground deformation began at Kilauea’s summit around noon, likely indicating underground movement of magma. Seismicity and deformation rates continued to increase after 5 p.m. Scientists said it is not possible to say with certainty at this time whether this activity will lead to an eruption, and that the activity may remain underground.

However, a possible eruption is in the summit region of Kilauea in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. HVO said it continues to monitor Kilauea closely for signs of increasing activity.

Seismicity rates and ground deformation beneath the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remained low, HVO said. Current activity is confined to the summit region.