Tourists warned as Hawaiian volcano erupts

Scientists are closely monitoring heightened activity at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, after a fissure sent lava spewing 20m (65ft) in the air. No homes were threatened and no one was injured, but park rangers cautioned visitors to keep their distance from the volcano.

Kilauea has been in constant eruption for 28 years. But geologist Janet Babb, of the US Geological Survey, said the activity indicated "new episodes in eruptions and further unknowns". On Saturday, one of the volcano's crater floors collapsed and a 490m-long fissure opened, spewing lava in the air. Another crater called Napau also began erupting.