Warning as world’s largest volcano erupts
Rivers of orange, glowing lava and smoky ash erupted yesterday from the world’s largest active volcano and people living on Hawaii’s Big Island were warned to be ready should debris threaten communities.
The US Geological Survey warned the roughly 200,000 people on the Big Island that an eruption of Mauna Loa “can be very dynamic, and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly”.
The eruption began on Monday, following a series of fairly large earthquakes, said Ken Hon, the scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
The US Geological Survey said the eruption had migrated to a rift zone on the volcano’s northeast flank. Rift zones are where the mountain rock is cracked and weak — making it easier for magma to emerge.
An eruption from the northeast could send lava toward the county seat of Hilo or other towns in East Hawaii but it could take the lava weeks or months to reach populated areas. It’s possible the eruption may later shift to a rift zone on the southwest flank. Lava emerging from this area could reach communities in hours or days.
Hawaii County Civil Defence announced it had opened shelters after reports of people evacuating from along the coast.
The USGS warned residents at risk from Mauna Loa lava flows to review their eruption preparations.
At 4169m above sea level, Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii, the southernmost island of Hawaii.