June 9, 2026 — South sulphur bank at the summit of Kīlauea

On June 9, 2026, USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists landed on the floor of Halema'uma'u crater in the vicinity of the south sulphur bank, visible in the background of this photo. The south sulphur bank was prominently visible in the mid-19th century but was covered as lava flows filled the caldera and wasn't visible in the twentieth century. As the caldera floor dropped during the 2018 summit collapse, the south sulphur bank was again exposed. History repeats itself as the south sulphur bank is being slowly but surely buried by lava flows during the current Halemaʻumaʻu eruption. USGS photo by M. Patrick.