Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spewed molten lava and hot rocks and gas after an explosion was generated from a partial collapse of the crater wall.

This collapse then triggered this small explosion that continued spreading lava and volcanic debris from the rim of Kilauea called the Halemaumau Crater says the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

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According to USGS geologist Janet Babb, this blast that occurred on Sunday can be compared to taking a hammer on top of a champagne bottle. She says that in champagne bottles, there's liquid but the gas is not visible. This is similar to what happened in Kilauea, there's a lot of gas in the lava so when rocks fall into the lava lake, it's similar to the moment when the champagne bottle top goes off that launches molten lava and hot rock debris.

Babb also adds that the rocks that are overhanging in the lava lake are disturbed by gases that are emitted by the lava. These rocks eventually become loose and collapsed into the lava lake that generated a sudden explosion from the inside.

The volcano material from the lake was projected to be flung out about 280 feet up into the sky.

Videos of the eruption shows a wall of rocks that are falling into the lava lake last week that is now overspilling from the crater as this caused the explosion and flung some fist sized rocks outwards the Halemaumau visitor outlook. This lava lake formed in 2008 where it has been closed to public.

Babb assures that this event may cause some ash fallout but it's highly unlikely that anyone can be injured. The amount of debris that can land on visitor areas around the volcano is often dictated by wind direction, she adds.

The last time that molten lava was seen overflowing on the crater was in 1982 during a fissure eruption. However, during all these years, the vent found within the Halemaumau Crater has been rising and falling ever since it first ruptured. Prior to this highest level of lava last week, the last highest level was in October 2012 that offered spectacular views of the lava lake's orange glow at night.

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