In a startling event, Yellowstone National Park experienced a surprise hydrothermal explosion, creating chaos among sightseers as steam, dark-colored rock, and dirt shot high into the sky. The eruption occurred on Tuesday morning in Biscuit Basin, located a few miles north of the renowned Old Faithful Geyser.

Videos posted online documented the terrifying scene as dozens of people watched in awe from a boardwalk, only to be met with falling water and debris. Shouts of "Back up!" and "Holy cow!" rang out as sightseers scrambled to find safety. Through a thick cloud of steam, observers continued to marvel at the dramatic display.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported; however, the Biscuit Basin area was promptly closed to visitors. The falling rocks had damaged the boardwalk, which serves as a protective barrier for Yellowstone's delicate and often hazardous geothermal areas.

Vlada March, a California real estate agent who was present with her family, described the eruption: "We saw more steam coming up, and within seconds, it became this huge thing. It just exploded and became like a black cloud that covered the sun."

Images and videos captured in the aftermath revealed damaged guardrails and boards coated in rock and silt around muddy pools. Geologists from the park are currently investigating the eruption, speculating that it may have been caused by a clogged passageway within Yellowstone's intricate natural plumbing network. Scientist Mike Poland from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory explained that a blockage could have built up heat and pressure, similar to a pressure cooker, leading to a sudden release of steam and triggering the explosion.

While the hydrothermal explosion posed a significant risk to visitors, Poland emphasized that, compared to past events within the Yellowstone system, it was relatively small. Notably, Yellowstone houses the largest known crater from a hydrothermal explosion on Earth, measuring a staggering 2.4km (1.5 miles) across.

Poland stated, "What we saw today was spectacular and definitely hazardous. But on the scale of what the Yellowstone system has done in the past, it was relatively small. It's a very good reminder of an underappreciated hazard in Yellowstone."

Yellowstone National Park is situated around a dormant volcano, and the recent hydrothermal explosion does not indicate new volcanic activity, according to the US Geological Survey. However, since 1890, at least 22 deaths have been recorded due to injuries related to the park's thermal features.

Visitors are continually advised to remain on designated boardwalks and trails in thermal areas. The pools and springs in these regions often conceal scalding and sometimes acidic water beneath a thin, breakable crust, posing a severe risk to unsuspecting individuals.

As park authorities work diligently to ensure visitor safety and investigate the cause of the recent eruption, Yellowstone National Park stands as a reminder of the awe-inspiring power and potential danger harbored by Earth's natural wonders.