Hawaii Volcano Eruption: How to Talk About Natural Disasters in English

Natural disasters can strike when you least expect them. Whether you’re traveling abroad, living overseas, or following the news in English, it's important to know how to talk about emergencies clearly and confidently.

In this article, we’ll take the recent eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano as a case study and learn:

• essential English vocabulary and expressions for different disasters,
• how to describe events and ask about safety,
• how to express empathy and support,
• and how to better understand English-language news.

On May 25, 2025, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted once again, launching lava fountains over 1,000 feet into the air. While no communities were immediately threatened, parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were temporarily closed to visitors.

Useful Phrases for Talking About Disasters

Asking about the situation:

• What happened in Hawaii?
• Was it a serious eruption?

Describing what happened:

• Kilauea erupted and spewed lava over 1,000 feet into the air.
• Authorities issued a warning and closed parts of the national park.

Showing concern:

• I hope everyone’s okay.
• That must be terrifying for the locals.

Understanding Disaster-Related News

Let’s break down this sentence from a news article:
“Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted early Monday morning with lava fountains shooting up to 1,000 feet into the air.”
✅ lava fountains shooting up to 1,000 feet – describes how high the lava rose
✅ erupted – past tense of “erupt,” meaning to suddenly release lava
✅ early Monday morning – gives the time frame

Flood


Examples:

• The city was flooded after days of heavy rain.
• Emergency crews evacuated people from submerged homes.

Hurricane / Typhoon


Examples:

• Hurricane Ida made landfall with winds up to 150 mph.
• People were told to stay indoors for their own safety.

Earthquake


Examples:

• A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit the region early in the morning.
• Rescuers searched for survivors under the rubble.

Wildfire / Forest fire


Examples:

• Wildfires destroyed over 10,000 acres of forest.
• Smoke made the air dangerous to breathe.

Common English Phrases for Disasters

Practice English Through Real News

Talking about natural disasters may not be fun, but it's an essential life skill. Here’s how to improve your English using news events:

1. Read real articles — follow trusted news sites like BBC, CNN, or Fox News.
2. Repeat key phrases out loud — e.g., “The area was evacuated after the eruption.”
3. Talk with native speakers — practice realistic conversations with feedback.

At Native Speakers Courses, you can do exactly that — join a free trial class and learn to speak clearly and confidently, even in the most unpredictable situations.