Cone Collapse at MLK Vent (May 2, 2005)

During Spring 2005, activity at the Martin Luther King (MLK) vent, an eruptive vent on the southwestern flank of the Pu'u 'O'o cone, changed from a period of construction to one of destruction. This was highlighted by the collapse of the main MLK spatter cone. The drainback of lava beneath the spatter cone, following the extrusion of lava, likely removed support of the overlying rock. The cone then fell into the resultant cavity.

The images that comprise this video were acquired by a time-lapse camera positioned on the south flank of the Pu'u 'O'o cone about 70 meters (230 feet) away from the MLK vent. The image acquisition rate was 1 frame per minute, and the resulting video is played at 10 frames per second.