Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spews lava as high as the Eiffel Tower in spectacular display

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has been putting on an incredible display as lava has been spewing 300m in the air from one of the world's most active volcanoes.

Reaching the heights of the Eiffel Tower, neon orange melted rock dazzled an otherwise grey landscape in a shocking series of eruptions.

The volcano on the Big Island, about 200 miles southeast of Honolulu, has been periodically erupting since December, with some displays lasting days.

In its latest - and 23rd - eruption, lava was seen bursting through several vents on Kilaueu and the flows were covering the floor of Halema'uma'u crater which has been closed to the public since 2007. 

Officials have issued warnings over respiratory problems thanks to the toxic gases released. 

Volcanic gas and ash can irritate the eyes and respiratory system, and lead to other symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, headaches, difficulty breathing, visual disturbances and tremors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The CDC also notes that long term exposure to these volcanic air pollutants can lead to lung infections such as bronchitis, and respiratory disorders such as lung disease or lungcancer.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have said: 'High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (HO), carbon dioxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind.

Hawaii 's Kilauea volcano has been putting on an incredible display as lava has been spewing 300m in the air from one of the world's most active volcanoes

Reaching the heights of the Eiffel Tower, neon orange melted rock dazzled an otherwise grey landscape in a shocking series of eruptions

Lava was seen bursting through several vents on Kilaueu and the flows were covering the floor of Halema'uma'u crater which has been closed to the public since 2007

'As SO is continuously released from the summit during an eruption, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) downwind of Kīlauea.

'SO and vog may cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations.'

So far, no residential areas have been threatened by lava flows.

The observatory has also warned about the dangers of Pele's Hair, which are thin, sharp glass strands of volcanic glass made when gas bubbles in the lava pop at the surface and cool into gossamer strands.

Although it tends to land near the eruption site, some lighter strands can carry with the wind and sometimes cluster together like tumbleweed, irritating people's eyes and skin or even contaminating drinking water.

'Residents and visitors should minimise exposure to Pele's hair and other volcanic fragments, which can cause skin and eye irritation,' they said.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory added that they would issue an eruption update later today. 

Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, and the most active among the five volcanos that together form the Big Island.

Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, and the most active among the five volcanos that together form the Big Island

Current hazards include volcanic gas emissions and windblown volcanic glass (Pele's Hair) that may impact Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and nearby communities, officials said

So far, no residential areas have been threatened by lava flows

This volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old, but did not grow above sea level until roughly 100,000 years ago.

People have been flocking to overlook sites inside the national park for views of the eruption.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory also hosts a livestream of Kilauea's eruptions. 

The longest and most destructive recorded eruption from Kilauea persisted from January 1983 to April 2018 and caused significant property damage, including the destruction of two towns in 1990 and a renowned black sand beach.

Kilauea overlaps with the eastern side of the largest volcano on Earth, the nearly 14,000-foot-tall Mauna Loa.

In January, researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa discovered that these two volcanoes share a magma source within Hawaii's hotspot, also known as the mantle plume.

They also have their own magma sources, but magma from the shared portion of the mantle plume can travel to either Kilauea or Mauna Loa.

The volcano receiving magma from this shared area is more likely to be active, while the other 'becomes sleepy,' according to Aaron Pietruszka, the lead researcher on the study and an associate professor at UH Manoa.

People watched the lava eruption from Halema'uma'u crater within the summit caldera Kaluapele, at the Kilauea volcano in March

People have been flocking to overlook sites inside the national park for views of the eruption

'Each volcano gets a boost of extra magma from the mantle from time to time. And then when that happens, its activity increases from its baseline,' Pietruszka told Spectrum News.

He and his colleagues published their findings in the Journal of Petrology.

However, it is possible for both volcanoes to erupt at the same time because they each have their own sources of magma too.

It's unclear whether this shared magma source is fueling the recent uptick in Kilauea's activity.