Mike Poland, a geophysicist with the US Geological Survey, confirmed the explosion and said people needed to shelter in place.

A new fissure erupts in Leilani Estates in Pahoa, Hawaii. Picture: APSource:AP

The explosion came about 6am (2am AEST) after two weeks of volcanic activity that included the opening of more than a dozen fissures that spewed lava into neighbourhoods.

At least 26 homes have been destroyed.

Those areas were evacuated as lava destroyed at least 26 homes and 10 other structures.

The US Geological Survey shows a view of the ash plume resulting from an early morning explosion at Kilauea Volcano, in Hawaii. Picture: APSource:AP

The explosion probably lasted only a few minutes, and the ash accumulations were minimal, with trace amounts expected near the volcano and in the town named Volcano, Mr Poland said.

The crater sits within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which has been closed since May 11.

Officials have said they didn’t expect the explosion to be deadly as long as people remained out of park.

Lava illuminates volcanic gases from the Kilauea volcano. Picture: GettySource:AFP

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

An eruption in 1924 killed one person and sent rocks, ash and dust into the air for 17 days. Scientists warned on May 9 that a drop in the lava lake at the summit might create conditions for an explosion that could fling ash and boulders the size of refrigerators into the air.

Geologists predicted it would mostly release trapped steam from flash-heated groundwater released as though it was a kitchen pressure cooker.

Communities a kilometre or two away may be showered by pea-size fragments or dusted with nontoxic ash, they said.

The volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983.

It’s one of five volcanoes on Hawaii’s Big Island, and the only one currently erupting.