Yellowstone: Hydrothermal blast causes park to close for safety

YELLOWSTONE: The Yellowstone National Park experienced a hydrothermal explosion in Biscuit Basin, forcing a temporary closure of the area.

The incident occurred at around 10:19 am local time, resulting in damage to the promenade and nearby infrastructure. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.

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Witnesses recounted a sudden eruption of boiling water, steam, mud, and rocks, which propelled a substantial column of debris and vapour high into the sky. A video captured the scene as park visitors quickly evacuated from the area.

Following the explosion, park officials closed Biscuit Basin, including its car park and pathways, citing safety concerns. Images released by the National Park Service showed the pathways covered in grey and black debris, with fences damaged by the explosion’s force.

Hydrothermal explosions occur when underground water, heated close to boiling temperatures by magma, rapidly turns into steam due to a sudden drop in pressure. Such events are unpredictable, despite ongoing efforts to install monitoring instruments in Yellowstone’s geothermal areas.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) described the explosion as relatively small compared to historical events at Yellowstone. Similar incidents have occurred previously, including an explosion at Biscuit Basin in 2009 and a minor event at Norris Geyser Basin in April this year.

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Such explosions occur frequently within Yellowstone’s geothermal systems but differ from volcanic activity. They do not indicate changes in the volcanic system’s background levels of activity.

Larger explosions capable of creating craters over a mile wide occur infrequently, approximately once every 700 years on average.