Many defy evacuation orders as more fissures hit Kilauea
PAHOA ( Hawaii): Two new fissures opened on Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, hurling bursts of rock and magma with an ear-piercing screech, threatening nearby homes and prompting authorities to order new evacuations.
One new fissure from Sunday morning was a vivid gouge of magma with smoke pouring out both ends and was the 17th to open on the volcano since it began erupting on May 3.
“It is a near-constant roar akin to a full-throttle 747 interspersed with deafening, earth-shattering explosions that hurtle 45kg lava bombs 30m into the air,” said Mark Clawson, 64, who lives uphill from the latest fissure and so far is defying an evacuation order.
Closer to the summit, in the evacuated Leilani Estates neighbourhood of about 1,500 people, explosions could be heard in the distance as steam rose from cracks in the roads. The bulging rim of one fissure wrecked a building, leaving behind torn metal.
An 18th fissure opened nearby on Sunday evening at about 6pm local time, spewing fumes and lava, officials said.
Even so, some people such as Clawson remained in their homes, confident they would be spared.
“We are keeping track of lava bombs.
“One went through the lanai (porch) roof of a neighbour’s house,” Clawson said.
About eight to 10 neighbours had yet to evacuate, he said.
The Hawaii National Guard is warning people in the coastal Lower Puna area to prepare to leave, saying anyone who chooses to stay behind cannot count on being rescued.
An evacuation has not been ordered there but might be if a local highway is cut off. —