YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park experienced a steam explosion on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the blast did startle some individuals.
A stunning video of the explosion was quickly shared on social media platforms shortly after the incident occurred just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
WATCH: Park visitor captures Biscuit Basin explosion in Yellowstone
Footage from a visitor showing a “small hydrothermal explosion” in Yellowstone National Park
The chief scientist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Dr. Michael Poland, explained that Tuesday’s event, while remarkable, is not unprecedented.
“These kinds of incidents occur about once or twice a year somewhere in Yellowstone, mostly in remote areas where they go unnoticed,” Poland stated.
RELATED:‘Small hydrothermal explosion’ reported at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park
A similar event took place at the Norris Geyser Basin on April 15th of this year. These explosions happen when water trapped below the surface meets hot rocks and instantly turns into steam.
Poland emphasized, “These hydrothermal explosions can happen suddenly without warning, making them challenging to predict and monitor.”
There have been no reports of injuries from the explosion, but the potential for harm was present, as shown in photos released by the Park Service depicting the damage to the boardwalk area.
NPS / Yellowstone National Park
Poland remarked, “The main danger lies in being hit by boiling water or rocks, as evidenced by the striking photographs of the aftermath of the explosion.”
WATCH MORE: NPS photos reveal aftermath of Biscuit Basin explosion
National Park Service photos show the aftermath of the Biscuit Basin explosion
“The boardwalk is now covered in rocks, demonstrating the impact of these hydrothermal explosions. While they do not involve a large amount of hot material or volcanic activity, falling rocks on boardwalks and exposure to scalding water are the primary hazards,” Poland added.
A similar steam explosion occurred in the same geyser basin in 2009, but it was smaller in scale compared to this recent event. Additionally, notable park features such as Indian Pond east of Fishing Bridge were formed by steam explosions many years ago.
NPS / Yellowstone National Park
“The potential for such events is inherent in hydrothermal systems, and it’s possible that subsequent incidents may occur. Biscuit Basin is not necessarily more prone to these events compared to other areas of the park,” Poland suggested.
The nearest seismometer to Biscuit Basin, located at Old Faithful, did not detect any seismic changes following the explosion.
