Volcano Erupts in Hawaii, Officials Urge Residents to Stay Indoors (VIDEO)

Hours after officials issued an eruption watch, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted Wednesday morning, prompting state officials to urge residents to stay indoors.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) “detected a glow” emanating from the webcam overseeing the Kilauea summit just before 4:44 a.m. local time, according to a notice posted by the USGS. That glow indicated to officials that an eruption had begun within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, located within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, the notice continued.

Images from the webcam show lava flows emanating from fissures on the surface of the crater floor. While officials have said there is not currently any danger the lava flows will threaten populated areas, residents on the Big Island have been advised to stay indoors due to air quality concerns.