A 33-year-old man is dead after he entered an off-limits area of Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii. Photo: Pieter De Malsche//Unsplash
The National Park Service announced that a 33-year-old man died after entering a closed area of Mount Kilauea on the island of Hawaii. While the volcano has been active in recent months, spewing lava hundreds of meters into the air, it was not erupting when the man perished.
The identity of the victim and cause of death have not been released.
Authorities responded to the incident on February 26 on the east side of the volcano’s caldera within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
“Search and rescue personnel conducted operations overnight in steep and hazardous terrain,” the National Park Service said. “On Feb. 27, responders located the individual and airlifted him from the area. He was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.”
Hawaii National Park extends from sea level to the top of Mauna Loa at 13,680 feet. Kilauea is at an elevation of 4,091 feet. There are several trails near the caldera from the visitor center, but the caldera itself is clearly marked as closed on park maps.
Other visitors were caught entering a closed area around the volcano in December to get a closer view of the volcano’s eruption.
“Kilauea caldera contains hazardous terrain, including unstable cliff edges and volcanic features,” the National Park Service warned. “Visitors are reminded to remain in designated open areas and comply with all closures.”
