Spectacular Images of the Recent Eruptions in Hawaii

The newest phase of Kilauea volcano’s ongoing eruption has opened as many as 20 new fissures on Hawaii's Big Island over the past two weeks, spewing lava and volcanic gases, forcing the evacuation of nearly 2,000 residents, and destroying dozens of homes near the town of Pahoa. Officials from the U.S. Geological Survey have been watching a recent lowering of the lava lake in Kilauea’s Halemaumau crater, warning residents and visitors of a possible explosive eruption that could launch car-sized boulders far into the sky. Here, a collection of images from the past week of the new fissures, the lava flow, and its effects on the natural environment and human infrastructure.

Read more
Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.

Most Recent

  • Walter Iooss. Jr. / Getty
    • In Focus
    • 11:18 AM ET
    • 22 Photos

    Photos: The Queen of Soul's Amazing Career

    A collection of images of Aretha Franklin’s incredible life of performance, spanning the past five decades.

  • Fiona Goodall / Getty for Lumix
    • In Focus
    • Aug 15, 2018
    • 24 Photos

    A Visit to Tuvalu, Surrounded by the Rising Pacific

    Fiona Goodall, a photographer working with Getty Images, recently visited the tiny South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, a country battling rising sea levels with limited resources.

  • Peter Morgan / Reuters
    • In Focus
    • Aug 13, 2018
    • 30 Photos

    Photos: 15 Years Since the 2003 Northeast Blackout

    On August 14, 2003, more than 50 million people across eight U.S. states and parts of Canada were left without power for days in the most widespread blackout in North American history.

  • FTCS (SS) Bob Nguyen / U.S. Navy
    • In Focus
    • Aug 10, 2018
    • 35 Photos

    Photos of the Week: Robot Cat, Purple Water, Tunnel of Love

    Missiles fly between Israel and Gaza, dizzying views in Hong Kong, a migrant family is reunited in Guatemala, a boisterous rodeo in Australia, wildfires intensify in California, and much more.

Most Popular on The Atlantic

  1. The Nastiest Feud in Science
  2. Why a Free Press Matters
  3. Are Cities Making Animals Smarter?
  4. It Was the Gatekeepers Who Failed
  5. The Government's Revealing Case Against Paul Manafort
  6. Trump and the N-Word
  7. Dude, She’s (Exactly 25 Percent) Out of Your League
  8. Dinesh D’Souza and the Decline of Conservatism
  9. The Women Who Gave Trump the White House Could Tip the Midterms to Democrats
  10. There’s No Innocent Way to Ask Your Son or Daughter About Grandkids
Back to Top