Kilauea

November 29, 1975 Eruption of Kilauea

November 29, 1975 · VEI 0 · 2 deaths · $4 million

Kilauea in the United States erupted on November 29, 1975 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 0. The eruption killed 2 people, counting its secondary effects. It caused a tsunami.

Where it erupted

Kilauea, United States, with its other significant eruptions.

Open the live map with volcanic ash advisories and webcams

The eruption

Date
November 29, 1975
Volcano
Kilauea, shield volcano
Volcanic Explosivity Index
0, non-explosive (eruption column under 100 m)
Killed by
Waves or tsunami
Location
19.421° N, 155.287° W

The toll

Deaths
2 with the tsunamis, mudflows and other effects it caused
Injuries
Few (about 1 to 50) with the tsunamis, mudflows and other effects it caused
Damage
$4 million with the tsunamis, mudflows and other effects it caused

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

M 7.2 earthquake created tsunami 2 hours before beginning of eruption. Extensive damage, subsidence and 2 deaths in Halape Park area when sea inundated acres of land.

Other significant eruptions of Kilauea

More

Every eruption in 1975The 1900sKilaueaEarthquakes near KilaueaThis day in weather history

Sources

Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 3407.