Blue Flames Emerge Between Road Cracks During Kilauea Volcano Eruption

Electric blue flames were spotted on road cracks near Leilani Estates subdivision on Tuesday, May 22, during the ongoing Kilauea volcano eruption.

US Geological Survey (USGS) released the video of the flames emerging from cracks on Kahukai Street in Leilani Estates, which was devastated by the volcano eruption in May. A USGS spokesman said the blue flames emerged after methane gas was produced from the volcano’s lava burning vegetation.

Methane gas is produced as a byproduct when hot lava buried plants and shrubs, which can then seep into cracks and create blue flames when it ignites, according to USGS. Credit: USGS via Storyful