Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is still spewing hot lava and toxic gas as the intensity of seismic activity at the Halemaumau crater summit rises, United States Geological Survey (USGS) scientists have warned.

Seismicity at the Hawaii volcano summit is on the rise again after a brief period of calm earlier on Wednesday, June 20, Hawaii time.

The ongoing eruption is destroying the Kilauea summit, causing Halemaumau’s crater walls to collapse at an alarming rate.

Aerial photography of the crumbling summit confirms an entire parking lot at the Overlook vantage point has disintegrated into the widening crater.

The USGS said on Thursday morning: “A helicopter overflight on June 19 confirms that the Overlook parking area – closed since 2008 – has slumped into the crater of Halemaumau.