An explosion reportedly occurred in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming on Tuesday morning, destroying a trail and sending tourists fleeing for safety.
At approximately 10:19 a.m., “a localized hydrothermal explosion occurred” near Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin, just north of Old Faithful. press release From Yellowstone.
“No injuries have been reported and the extent of damage is unknown at this time,” the statement said.
Park officials reportedly closed Biscuit Basin and the surrounding area after the explosive eruption but left open the Grand Loop Road, an hourglass-shaped road about 25 miles east of the basin. (Related article: Yellowstone tourist receives prison time for 'dangerous' incident caught on camera)
video Footage of the eruption showed black water, steam and rocks shooting into the sky, then collapsing onto the boardwalk as tourists fled.
“Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Montana exploded right before our eyes. The trail was destroyed and my mom got caught in some of the rubble but we are all safe. It feels unbelievable but I'm grateful to be alive,” the video's uploader, Vlada March, said in an accompanying post.
Another video Footage from March shows much of the trail damaged and strewn with rocks as steam rises from geysers in the basin in the quake's aftermath.
This geyser is a black diamond geyser. according to It was created by the non-profit organization GeyserTimes. The geyser is located in Black Diamond Pool.
Black Diamond Pool is a site of rare hydrothermal eruptions. according to Yellowstone. The pool itself is reportedly the result of a hydrothermal explosion.
Park officials said a similar historic explosive eruption occurred at Black Diamond Pool after an earthquake in July 2006, which triggered a series of explosions over the next few days.
This is reported to be the first eruption since 2016.
The average temperature of the highly alkaline, murky blue pool is said to be 148.5°F.
Yellowstone National Park officials and U.S. Geological Survey personnel have since monitored the “ongoing incident” and “plan to reopen the area as soon as it is deemed safe,” park officials said.
