Toddler came within a foot of falling into active Hawaii volcano after mother took her eye off him

A toddler narrowly escaped serious injury at Kilauea Overlook when he ran to the edge of the caldera on Christmas Day.

The boy’s mother managed to grab him just in time to prevent a fatal 400-foot plunge in Pāhoa, Hawaii.

Jessica Ferracane, public affairs specialist for Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, witnessed the heartbreaking moment unfold.

She explained that she initially thought the boy’s mother was simply ignoring the barriers, but soon realized the woman was desperately trying to save her child.

The incident left the family visibly shaken and silently stunned onlookers.

“We always tell visitors to keep your children close, but when you see something like this happen and someone almost die, it’s a really disturbing experience for everyone there,” she said. Star advisor.

Ferracane noted that the family, consisting of six or seven adults, appeared distracted when the boy walked into the enclosed area.

The group, who spoke no English, left shortly after the incident, leaving park officials unable to communicate directly with them.

The boy’s mother managed to grab him just in time to avoid a fatal fall of 120 meters

The park, which has seen an influx of visitors since Kilauea began erupting earlier this week, continues to remind the public of the dangers near the caldera.

Despite a lull in the eruption on Wednesday morning, dangerous conditions remain, including toxic gas emissions and unstable terrain.

The glow from Halemaumau, a lava lake in Kaluapele, remains visible and has grown to 200 hectares since the 2018 eruption.

Visitors are urged to stay on the trails, respect closures and monitor air quality as volcanic gases can pose serious health risks, especially to vulnerable people.

Superintendent Rhonda Loh emphasized the importance of adhering to safety measures.

“The hazards coinciding with an eruption are dangerous and we have taken safety measures including closed areas, barriers, closure signs and traffic management,” Loh said.

Loh added: “Your safety is our utmost concern, but we trust everyone to recreate responsibility. National parks show the beauty of nature, but are not playgrounds.’

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted early Monday morning, erupting lava fountains from fissures in the summit caldera.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a ‘code red’ warning after detecting increased earthquake activity.

Footage showed a row of fissures erupting lava fountains and feeding lava flows into the summit caldera.

The park, which has seen an influx of visitors since Kilauea began erupting earlier this week, continues to remind the public of the dangers near the caldera.

Scientists had warned of an impending eruption after Kilauea saw an increase in seismic activity last week, with about 100 small earthquakes detected at the base of the volcano.

“Activity is limited to the summit caldera and hazards will be reassessed as the eruption progresses,” the USGS said in an announcement.

Formed underwater 280,000 years ago, Kilauea Volcano is the youngest and most active volcano in Hawaii. According to Hawaiian legend, it is home to Pelehonuamea, the goddess of volcanoes and fire.

Kilauea has erupted more than 60 times since the 19th century, releasing large amounts of volcanic gases, including water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which can cause vog – a haze that affects air quality.

Located on the Big Island, home to approximately 200,000 people, Kilauea’s eruptions can have a significant impact on the environment and communities.

Scientists warned of an impending eruption last week after a surge in seismic activity, with more than 100 small earthquakes detected.

Ground deformation and increased seismic activity indicated the movement of magma beneath the surface. High levels of volcanic gases pose a significant hazard.