September 17, 2024 —Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. This photo was taken at 7:30 am H.S.T. Geologists observed fountaining eruptive fissures and active lava flows bisecting the floor of Nāpau Crater, just downrift (northeast) of the September 15 eruptive fissure. The active (foreground) and inactive (upper middle) fissures are emitting volcanic gases, which appears white. At the northern (right) lava flow margin there is also steam associated with localized minor burning of vegetation. The slope of Mauna Loa is visible in the background (right). This southeast-facing view shows the current activity from the northwest side of the crater. USGS photo by N. Deligne.