Speed Reads

Whoa

This is what a whirlwind of lava looks like

The Kilauea volcano erupted on May 3, and since then, it has caused more than 4,000 earthquakes and spewed enough lava to cover 10.2 square miles of land.

On Friday, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey saw another spectacular event — a whirlwind at the volcano's fissure 8, caused by hot gases punching through the cooler air above, creating a vertical column of hot air. The USGS said the lava was strewn about, flying across several meters, and scientists kept a safe distance, using a telephoto lens to capture stunning footage. The whirlwind started and stopped without warning, lasting about 10 minutes.

Kilauea is on the Big Island, and, not surprisingly, the state's most active volcano. Watch the incredible video below. Catherine Garcia