Surprise Yellowstone National Park explosion sends crowds running for cover

Yellowstone National Park witnessed a surprise eruption on Tuesday when an explosion of steam, water, and muddied debris soared into the sky, causing a dash for cover among park visitors. This comes days after a man died after falling into boiling water in the same park.

The hydrothermal blast took place at around 10am in the Biscuit Basin area, a hotspot known for its geysers, just north of the iconic Old Faithful.

Bystanders captured the moment on video , showing a crowd observing the impressive display from a nearby boardwalk before scattering to avoid the cascading debris, with some exclaiming "Back up! " and "Holy cow! " in awe of the unfolding event.

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The force of the explosion has left its mark on the wooden boardwalk infrastructure, designed to protect people from the park's delicate and hazardous terrain; subsequent images show guardrails and planks strewn with rocks and dirt.

Despite the shocking event, there have been no reports of injuries. Nevertheless, the area around Biscuit Basin has been sealed off to ensure public safety, following a US Geological Survey advisory.

Hydrothermal explosions such as this are not unusual for Yellowstone, having previously occurred in the Biscuit Basin back in 2009, 1991, and notably in response to the powerful Hebgen Lake earthquake in 1959.

Despite its dramatic nature, the recent event was relatively small, according to a statement. Scientists believe that a series of hydrothermal explosions formed Mary Bay on the northeastern side of Yellowstone Lake around 13,800 years ago.

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With a diameter of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), Mary Bay is the largest known hydrothermal explosion crater in the world. Yellowstone is built upon a massive dormant volcano. The hydrothermal explosion does not suggest any new activity within the volcanic system, which remains at normal levels, as per the Geological Survey.

While no injuries were reported this time, Yellowstone's thermal features have been dangerous in the past.

Since 1890, at least 22 people are known to have died from injuries related to thermal features within and around the 3,471-square-mile (9,000-square-kilometer) national park.

Visitors are advised to stick to the boardwalks and trails in thermal areas, where some pools and springs are covered by a thin, fragile crust over scalding and sometimes acidic water.

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