A family at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park had a lucky escape when their toddler wandered off and fell off a nearly 400-foot cliff into the middle of a volcano, but his screaming mother caught him “just in time.” a report in BBCThe little boy got separated from his family and immediately ran straight towards the edge of Kilauea volcano. According to park officials, if the boy had fallen into the caldera – the volcano’s large crater – he would not have survived the fall.
The family was visiting behind a closed area beyond the post-and-cable barrier at Kilauea Overlook when the incident occurred last week, park officials said. The incident prompted national park rangers to re-issue warnings about volcano tourism.
“The hazards that accompany eruptions are dangerous, and we have safety measures in place, including closed areas, barriers, stop signs and traffic management,” park superintendent Rhonda Loh said in a statement.
Ms Loh said, “Your safety is our utmost concern, but we rely on everyone to recreate responsibly. National parks showcase the grandeur of nature but they are not playgrounds.”
Look Kilauea volcano erupts again, starts spewing lava
Kilauea Volcano
Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It erupted earlier this month, spewing lava 80 meters (260 feet) in the air, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
“Melten material, including lava bombs, is gushing out from vents in the caldera floor toward the west caldera rim. Plumes of volcanic gas and fine volcanic particles are rising to heights of 6,000-8,000 feet above sea level…and winds carry it. Moving to Southwest,” a statement from the agency read.
Kilauea has been very active since 1983 and before December, the last eruption was observed in June 2024 and lasted about five days. The volcano also erupted in September 2023 and lasted for a week. Notably, it is one of six active volcanoes located in the Hawaiian Islands, which also includes Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano, although Kilauea is far more active.
