Early this morning, scientists at U.S. Geological Survey's Hawai'i Volcano Observatory confirmed that a small outbreak of lava had oozed from a fissure about 250 yards long in the forest northeast of Kane Nui o Hamo, about 3.7 miles west of Pu'u 'O'o and eight miles southeast of the Kilauea summit.

Scientists also reported large volumes of steam issuing from a spot high on the north flank of Kane Nui o Hamo. Geologists dubbed the new outbreak Episode 56 of the ongoing eruption that began in 1983.

The lava that had escaped from the cavities under the upper East Rift zone was cooling and not advancing when scientists spotted it at about 7 a.m., but steam and gas were issuing from the crack that had released the lava.

"The outbreak appeared to be a short one that had been over for at least a few hours by the time it was seen this morning," USGS said in a statement released at 9:30 this morning.

Scientists said the outbreak may be related to the abrupt eastward migration of the earthquake epicenters into this area between 3:45 and 5 p.m. yesterday.