Man Found Dead In Hawaii Volcano After Apparent Fall

HONOLULU, HA — A man was found dead on Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, officials said.

Two hikers found a backpack on the Crater Rim Trail Saturday and alerted officials. Rangers searched for the owner late Saturday, but the search was suspended due to hazardous conditions. The 38-year-old man's body was found the following morning by rangers searching by helicopter.

Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said Monday the body was found on the caldera floor about 250 feet below trail. (For more Across America news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Officials think the man died from a fall, Ferracane said. An investigation is ongoing.

Visitors are still allowed in the area. Hikers should keep to marked trails. The site does not have an active lava flow, though Kilauea is erupting.

Since 1990, four people have died from falls around the crater rim.

The park posted on Twitter last week:

Be #LavaSafe! Watch our new video and stay safe with 2 rules: 1) stay out of closed areas and 2) be prepared! https://t.co/OhPhsQkCoS pic.twitter.com/yN9u3OiGll
— Hawaii Volcanoes NPS (@Volcanoes_NPS) July 7, 2017

By Caleb Jones, Associated Press

Photo credit: Caleb Jones, Associated Press