Kīlauea, Hawaii, began bursting with lava and spewing volcanic gas in the early hours of Monday morning, providing a fiery spectacle for onlookers. According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the eruption began around 2:20 a.m. local time on December 23.

Loads of lava have already been pumped out of the volcano. The area currently covered is about 1 meter (3.3 feet) deep and covers about 2.6 square kilometers (1 square mile) of the caldera, called Kaluapele. Elsewhere, lava fountains are estimated to spray up to 90 meters (300 feet) into the air.

The current volcano alert level is currently “Watch” and the aviation color code is orange, meaning the risk of danger is limited. While there is likely no immediate threat to human life or infrastructure, the volcano is pumping out a “very high” amount of volcanic gas. These fumes can be high in sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas that can irritate eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Therefore, people with breathing or heart problems and pregnant women should be particularly careful.

Despite the danger warning, the crime scene has drawn some large crowds and overflowed the surrounding parking lots. You can still visit the area in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. However, be sure to follow the precautions on the NPS website.

One of those lucky enough to witness the eruption was Aaron Monson, a local who told Storyful that he and his wife “live close enough to the volcano to see the glow when it begins to erupt at night.” His wife spotted the volcano’s red glow in the early hours of Monday, prompting her to head to the park to capture stunning shots (above).

Kīlauea’s lava flows are typically basaltic, have a low viscosity like thick syrup, and produce bright red-orange rivers of molten rock that can flow over long distances.

Located on the southeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on earth. The volcano erupted almost continuously from 1983 to 2018 and has shown periodic activity since then, with eruptions occurring only sporadically in recent years. Its name means “to spread” or “to spit” in Hawaiian, reflecting its tendency to have frequent outbursts.

The region is also home to the Nēnē, a rare Hawaiian goose. If you’re driving to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to take a look at the eruption, be sure to drive carefully and not get too close to the birds or you could disrupt their precious mating season.