Authorities in Hawaii are warning of a possible "significant emission" of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, after the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island erupted.
"An eruption has commenced within Kilauea's summit caldera," shortly after 9:30 pm local time, said the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
"The situation is rapidly evolving and HVO (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) will issue another statement when more information is available."
Images posted by the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park showed billows of red smoke rising into the night sky.
The Kilauea volcano is located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Source: United States Geological Survey
The USGS warned of a "significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere" and upgraded its aviation color code to red, advising pilots to avoid the area around Kilauea.
The National Weather Service reported prevailing winds could push the ashfall towards communities on the southwest of Big Island and said people with respiratory problems should take "extra precaution".
The USGS reported a shallow, 4.4-magnitude earthquake near the volcano shortly after the eruption.
Kilauea, a popular tourist attraction, is one of the world's most active volcanoes and has been erupting regularly since the 1950s.
Ken Boyer says the eruption is the biggest he has ever seen. Source: Facebook/Ken Boyer
In 2014 Big Island declared a state of emergency after red-hot lava from Kilauea ignited a house and threatened the entire town of Pahoa on the eastern tip of the island.
Hawaii Island, or the Big Island, is the largest of the eight main islands which make up the Pacific US state - an archipelago that includes hundreds of smaller volcanic islands.
