Red alert raised after ash bursts from Hawaii volcano
People watch at a golf course as an ash plume rises in the distance from the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island on Tuesday ( Wednesday in Manila). LOS ANGELES: A massive plume of volcanic ash burst from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), prompting authorities to issue warnings about air quality and the likelihood of a major eruption.
The Hawaiian County Civil Defense Agency said rock falls and gas explosions from one of the craters on Kilauea had caused the ash plume which was drifting downwind to the southwest.
Authorities said the ash cloud was as high as 10,000 to 12,000 feet (3,000 to 3,600 meters) and had prompted a code red aviation alert.
They warned that residents in the path of the cloud could experience respiratory problems and urged people to avoid exposure and to drive with caution.
The new burst of ash came as
Island, where the crater is located, bringing to 20 the total number of lava-oozing cracks caused by the volcano eruption on May 3.
The Civil Defense Agency said dangerous gas was issuing from
- dens subdivision, which has been evacuated, and urged residents to stay away.
“Condition RED means immediate danger to health so take action to limit further exposure,” the agency said in a statement. “Severe conditions may exist such as choking and inability to breathe.
“This is a serious situation that affects the entire exposed population.”
So far, some 40 homes and other buildings have been destroyed by the lava that has been spewing from the volcano located on the southeastern part of Big Island.
Scientists say that as the lava level continues to drop in the cra-
in the ground and have warned of a major volcanic eruption.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and one of