(BIVN) – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Highway 11 were closed on Thursday due to tephra fallout from episode 44 in the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. 

The USGS Volcano Alert level for Kīlauea has been raised to WARNING RED. 

Episode 44 began at 11:10 a.m. HST, and current wind conditions are pushing the tephra and ashfall to the north and northeast of Halemaʻumaʻu. 

Hawaiʻi County officials announced the closure Highway 11 in Puna at the 25.5 Mile Marker – which is at the intersection of Nahelenani Street – and in Kaʻū at the 40 Mile Marker. 

Officials say the closure “was made with coordination between the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, HVNP, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, and Hawaiʻi Police Department in anticipation of hazards from falling volcanic tephra. Local traffic with proof of residency is permitted as conditions allow.” 

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is temporarily closed at the park entrance due hazardous volcanic material (tephra) and gas associated with the eruptive episode.

USGS webcam shows the plume from episode 44

“Rangers evacuating the area reported that tephra chunks the size of softballs were falling at Kīlauea Overlook at Kilauea Military Camp around noon and are continuing,” the National Park Service stated.

“Overnight guests of Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp will be allowed to enter the park and shelter in place, as will staff,” the National Park Service reported. “The Kahuku Unit is open but can only be accessed past mile marker 40.”

Due to the risk of tephra infiltrating pool circulation and filtration systems, Hawaiʻi County has closed the NAS Swimming Pool in Hilo and the Pāhoa Community Aquatic Center in Puna.

Hawaiʻi County emergency officials provided the following general safety information:

• If you have a respiratory condition, avoid contact with ash. Stay indoors until it is safe to go outside.
• Close doors and windows, where possible.
• Wear masks, gloves and eye protection when in contact with ash.
• Do not drive in heavy ashfall.
• Water catchment systems: Temporarily disconnect the gutters feeding into the tank. Do not reconnect the system until the volcanic hazards (i.e. ash, laze, Pele’s hair in the air) have passed and the ash and debris are washed off the roof, out of the gutters and the tank.
• Use caution when clearing rooftops of ash.