September 16, 2026 — Vent complex and new fissures within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea

Low-angle aerial view looking southwest of the vent area within Halema‘uma‘u, taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on September 16, 2026. The vent complex built up over the course of the eruption that began on December 23, 2024, is visible on the left; the Pu‘u formed by the accumulation of tephra from lava fountaining over that time is behind and above it and is partially obscured by volcanic gas. Red spatter is visible exiting north vent. In the foreground are silvery lava flows that have erupted from fissures formed in the past 2 days (since September 14). One of the active new fissures can be seen at the center of the photo. USGS photo by N. Deligne.