Tourists run for cover after geyser explosion at Yellowstone National Park
On Tuesday (23 July) morning local time, a geyser at Yellowstone National Park — located in the US — experienced a hydrothermal explosion.
According to the National Park Service, the explosion sent boiling water, steam, mud, and debris into the air, causing damage to a nearby boardwalk.
The extent of damage from the explosion is being assessed.
Incident captured & widely shared on social media
Facebook user Vlada March posted a video showing people running for cover following the explosion.
Many people, including children, started running after the blast as black debris and steam soared into the air.
“Run, run, run!” a woman shouted in the video.
Photos of the damaged boardwalk were later shared by Yellowstone National Park.
Fortunately, the National Park Service reported that there were no injuries as a result of the incident.
Area where explosion occurred closed
Hydrothermal explosions commonly occur in Yellowstone when underground water at or near boiling point rapidly turns into steam because of a drop in pressure.
“Hydrothermal explosions, being episodes of water suddenly flashing to steam, are notoriously hard to predict — they may not give warning signs at all,” the US Geological Survey said on X.
As a result of the explosion, Biscuit Basin — where the incident occurred — will be closed for the remainder of the “2024 season” for visitors’ safety.
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Featured image adapted from Vlada March on Facebook and @YellowstoneNPS on X.