A steam explosion shook Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the blast did startle some visitors.
Shortly before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, a stunning video of the explosion was shared on social media platforms.
WATCH: Park visitor captures Biscuit Basin explosion in Yellowstone
Visitor records footage of a “small hydrothermal explosion” in Yellowstone National Park
The lead scientist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Dr. Michael Poland, stated that while Tuesday’s incident was remarkable, it’s not unprecedented.
“These types of events occur once or twice a year somewhere in Yellowstone, often in remote areas that go unnoticed,” Poland explained.
A similar occurrence took place in the Norris Geyser Basin on April 15 of this year, triggered when underground water met hot rocks, leading to a sudden steam explosion.
“These hydrothermal explosions can happen with little warning, making them challenging to predict and monitor,” added Poland.
No injuries were reported from the explosion, but photos released by the Park Service show damage to the boardwalk area.
NPS / Yellowstone National Park
“The main danger is being hit by boiling water or rocks, as illustrated by the photos of the aftermath,” stated Poland.
WATCH MORE: NPS photos reveal aftermath of Biscuit Basin explosion
Damage caused by Biscuit Basin explosion shown in National Park Service photos
“The boardwalk is covered in rocks after the explosion. This is the typical impact of hydrothermal explosions—more about falling rocks than volcanic eruptions, with a risk of getting scalded by hot water,” Poland explained.
A similar steam explosion occurred in the same geyser basin in 2009, though the recent blast was larger. Additionally, notable park features like Indian Pond near Fishing Bridge were shaped by ancient steam explosions.
NPS / Yellowstone National Park
“The potential for such occurrences is inherent in hydrothermal systems. Biscuit Basin is not necessarily more prone to these incidents than any other area, but further events could transpire,” Poland warned.
The nearest seismometer to Biscuit Basin, located at Old Faithful, did not detect any activity resulting from the explosion.
