February 1961 Halemaʻumaʻu Summit Eruption

The February 1961 summit eruption of Kīlauea marked the beginning of a year of intense volcanic activity, characterized by three distinct summit eruptive phases. The eruption began with lava fountaining and the formation of a collapse pit in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, accompanied by ground deformation and seismic activity that signaled significant magma movement beneath the volcano.