Lava is oozing east of Pu'u 'O'O crater on Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, for the first time in 15 years, scientists said yesterday.

Crews detected activity in the area, but were delayed until daybreak to view the eruption within the state's Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve because of tropical depression Cosme, which brought rain and fog to the Big Island.

"This morning we got out and confirmed a relatively small eruption occurring along about a one-mile long line of fissures," said Jim Kauahikaua, scientist in charge at the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. "It's up in a pretty remote area."

The eruption did not force any new closures at nearby Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The volcano's east rift has been closed since June 17 because of earlier events.

It is the first time lava was erupting east of Pu'u 'O'O since Feb. 7, 1992.

Kilauea has been erupting continuously since Jan. 3, 1983, sending lava from the Pu'u 'O'O cone through a system of tubes to the ocean where it forms new land over time.

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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/