Hawaii volcano belches new ash plume
PAHALA, Hawaii: The restive Kilauea Volcano belched clouds of ash into the skies over Hawaii’s Big Island twice more as civil defense authorities reported that pressurized geothermal wells at a nearby power plant had been secured from approaching lava.
The latest back- to- back upheavals of ash from the main summit crater of Kilauea – one before dawn and another several hours later – came on the 21st day of what geologists rank as one of the biggest eruption cycles in a century from one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
The earlier ash plume rose to a height of 8,000 feet, while the later one reached about 5,000 feet, authorities said.
Intermittent explosions of ash from the summit, believed to be driven by underground bursts of steam deep inside the throat of the crater vent, are continuing the occur about twice a day, with smaller blasts in between, US Geological Survey ( USGS) vulcanologist Wendy Stovall told reporters.
The Hawaii County Civil Defense agency warned in its latest bulletin that residents downwind of Kilauea should take care to avoid exposure to ash, which can cause eye irritation and breathing difficulties, particularly in people with respiratory problems.
Authorities also said that emissions of sulfur dioxide gas, harmful if inhaled, remained at high levels from newly opened lava- spewing fissures in the ground running through populated areas on the eastern flank of the volcano.
“Residents in the affected area should be prepared to take leave of the area with little notice due to gas or lava inundation,” the bulletin said.
One major potential hazard that appeared to have been brought under control was at the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) plant, which provides about a quarter of the Big Island’s electricity.
Lava from an active fissure nearby had flowed onto the property early this week, posing the risk of toxic gases being released in the event the molten rock encroached into any of three pressurised deep- underground wells.
Utility crews racing to quench the wells with cold water and cap the well heads with iron plugs before lava could reach them managed to secure the site. — Reuters