![]() ![]() Portions of the Big Island were under an ashfall advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Scientists had been on alert because of a recent spike in earthquakes at the summit of the volcano, which last erupted in 1984. The USGS warned residents who could be threatened by the lava flows to review their eruption preparations. Hawaii County Civil Defense announced it had opened shelters because it had reports of people evacuating from along the coast on their own initiative. "So those residents in that area do not have to worry about lava flows." "So we presume at this point that all of the future activity is going to be on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa and not on the southeast rift zone," he said. But Hon said historically Mauna Loa has never erupted from both rift zones simultaneously. Lava could reach nearby communities in hours or days if the volcano erupts from this area. Mauna Loa has another rift zone on its southwest flank. Scientists hope the flow will parallel the 1984 eruption, where the lava was more viscous and slowed down. Lava could move toward the county seat of Hilo, but that could take about a week, Hon said at a news conference. Rift zones are where the mountain rock is cracked and relatively weak - making it easier for magma to emerge. Geological Survey said the eruption had migrated to a rift zone on the volcano's northeast flank. ![]() Officials were most worried about several subdivisions some 30 miles (50 kilometers) to the volcano's south that are home to about 5,000 people.Ī time-lapse video of the eruption from overnight showed lava lighting up one area, moving across it like waves on the ocean. More than a third of the island's residents live either in the city of Kailua-Kona to the west of the volcano, or about 23,000 people, and Hilo to the east, with about 45,000. ![]() Seeing Mauna Loa erupt is a new experience for many residents of the Big Island, where the population has more than doubled from 92,000 in 1980. "Right now it's just entertainment, but the concern is" it could reach populated areas, he said. "You could see it spurting up into the air, over the edge of this depression," Mench said. Mench and his wife, Ellie, ventured out to film the eerie red glow cast over the island, watching as lava spilled down the volcano's side. Gunner Mench, who owns an art gallery in Kamuela, said he awoke shortly after midnight and saw an alert on his phone about the eruption. "We don't know where the flow is going, we don't know how long it's going to last." "I think everybody should be a little bit concerned," he said. He said he's seen three Mauna Loa eruptions in his lifetime and stressed the need for vigilance. Lifelong Big Island resident Bobby Camara, who lives in Volcano Village, said everyone across the island should keep track of the eruption. Hon said air quality could deteriorate while the eruption lasts, which scientists expect will be about one or two weeks if the volcano follows historical patterns. Libby Char, the director of the state Department of Health. Volcanic gases wafting out of the vents, primarily sulfur dioxide, are also harmful.Īir quality on the Big Island more generally is good right now but officials are monitoring it carefully, said Dr. Officials urged the public to stay away from them, given the dangers posed by lava, which is shooting 100 to 200 feet (30 to 60 meters) into the air out of three separate fissures roughly estimated to be 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers) long. The areas where lava was emerging - the volcano's summit crater and vents along the volcano's northeast flank - are both far from homes and communities. ![]() The eruption began late Sunday night following a series of fairly large earthquakes, said Ken Hon, scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Officials told residents to be ready to evacuate if lava flows start heading toward populated areas. Climate Barometer newsletter: Sign up to keep your finger on the climate pulse.Geological Survey warned the roughly 200,000 people on the Big Island that an eruption "can be very dynamic, and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly." The eruption of Mauna Loa wasn't immediately endangering towns, but the U.S. Waves of orange, glowing lava and smoky ash belched and sputtered Monday from the world's largest active volcano in its first eruption in 38 years, and officials told people living on Hawaii's Big Island to be ready in the event of a worst-case scenario. ![]()
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