Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted Thursday after a week of earthquakes and a lava leak which prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders to those living in the nearby Puna District.
The earthquakes began on Monday after the Puu Oo crater floor began to collapse, pushing magma over 10 miles downslope towards the island's more populated southeastern coast.
On Thursday, Kilauea erupted just hours after an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale shook the island. The week's previous earthquakes had measured no more than 2.5 on the Richter scale.
Kilauea is located on Hawaii's Big Island, and is one of the world's most active volcanoes.
Community centers nearby opened to provide shelter for the evacuees.