An unusually large geyser explosion has destroyed a boardwalk in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone National Park officials say around 10:00AM MST on Tuesday morning, a small hydrothermal explosion occurred in the Biscuit Basin thermal area, about two miles from of Old Faithful. Numerous videos of the event were recorded by visitors. The explosion appears to have originated near Black Diamond Pool.
Biscuit Basin, including the parking lot and boardwalks, are temporary closed for visitor safety. The Grand Loop road remains open. Yellowstone National Park geologists are investigating the event.
Social media posts show tourists walking on the boardwalk at Biscuit Basin, moments before a huge geyser throws water and debris into the air.
Video from the park shows people walking on the boardwalk when the explosion happened.
One person posted on Facebook, remarking on the devastation to the boardwalk after the geyser has exploded, “This has never happened in the history of the park.”
Rangers quickly arrived at the scene and closed off the area.
Hydrothermal explosions occur when water suddenly flashes to steam underground, and they are relatively common in Yellowstone. For example, Porkchop Geyser, in Norris Geyser Basin, experienced an explosion in 1989, and a small event in Norris Geyser Basin was recorded by monitoring equipment on April 15, 2024. An explosion similar to that of today also occurred in Biscuit Basin on May 17, 2009.
More information about hydrothermal explosions is available at Hydrothermal explosions in Yellowstone National Park | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)
Monitoring data show no changes in the Yellowstone region. Today’s explosion does not reflect activity within volcanic system, which remains at normal background levels of activity. Hydrothermal explosions like that of today are not a sign of impending volcanic eruptions, and they are not caused by magma rising towards the surface.
Most of the boardwalk was destroyed.
There are no reports of casualties.
KODI will update the story as information becomes available.
