The terrifying moment a massive explosion in Yellowstone National Park was captured by tourists running for their lives.
Biscuit Basin, just north of Old Faithful, erupted around 10 a.m. MST, shooting a huge plume of superheated water and debris into the air.
Vlada March from California visited the park with her mother and filmed the event, having dozens of visitors quickly walk off a boardwalk just inches from the hot spring.
The National Park Service has closed all access to Biscuit Basin while geologists investigate the event.
The terrifying moment a massive explosion in Yellowstone National Park was captured by tourists running for their lives
Biscuit Basin, just north of Old Faithful, erupted around 10 a.m. MST, sending a massive plume of superheated water and debris into the air
March has the video to facebookshare: ‘The Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park just exploded right in front of us.
“Boardwalk destroyed, my mom got some debris but everyone is safe. Unbelievable and thankful to be alive.”
The Californian also shared a clip of the aftermath, which shows the wooden walkway in pieces and the area flooded.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that a small hydrothermal explosion occurred in the Biscuit Basin thermal area.
This event occurs where “shallow, interconnected reservoirs of fluids with temperatures at or near boiling underlie thermal fields,” according to USGS.
“These liquids can quickly turn to steam if the pressure suddenly drops.”
The agency also reported that no injuries were reported.
Vlada March from California visited the park with her mother and filmed the event, which saw dozens of visitors quickly walk off a boardwalk just inches from the hot spring, which was destroyed.
The National Park Service has closed all access to Biscuit Basin while geologists investigate the event
The National Park Service reports that no other changes have been observed in the Yellowstone region.
“Today’s explosion does not indicate any change in the volcanic system, which remains at normal background levels of activity,” the agency said in a statement.
The USGC agreed with the park’s statements, saying that “Hydrothermal explosions like today’s are not signs of impending volcanic eruptions and are not caused by magma rising to the surface.”
Park rangers said they didn’t know when the boardwalk would reopen.
Although the event caused chaos in the park, an eruption had already occurred in Biscuit Basin in May 2009.