A volcano on a deserted island in the Galapagos Islands has recently started erupting, illuminating the dark sky as molten lava flows down the slopes and heads towards the ocean.

The La Cumbre volcano, located on Fernandina island, began its eruption on Saturday around midnight, which experts from Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute believe could be its most significant eruption since 2017. The volcano, standing at 1,476 meters (4,842 feet), previously erupted in 2020.

Photos posted on social media, captured by tourists in the Galapagos, display the volcano silhouetted against a vibrant red sky.

Although the volcanic eruption did not endanger human safety, the island serves as a habitat for various creatures such as iguanas, penguins, and flightless cormorants. In 2019, researchers discovered a massive tortoise on the island, thought to have been extinct for over 100 years.

The La Cumbre volcano is highly active within the Galapagos Island chain, known globally for its role in aiding British scientist Charles Darwin in forming his evolutionary theory during the 19th century.

Source: wral.com