One of the world’s most active volcanoes erupted again early Monday morning, sending lava fountains stretching more than 200 feet and sending plumes of toxic gas into the skies over Hawaii, officials said.
Kilauea’s eruption began around 2 a.m. and “may continue for some time,” said Ken Hong, chief scientist at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory.
There was no immediate threat to infrastructure, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
U.S. Geological Survey/AP
Hong said “spray,” a potentially harmful mixture of water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, was expected to cause water levels to rise in areas south and west of the volcano in the coming days. He urged residents to stay indoors as volcanic smog is expected to become more severe.
The agency said an 82-meter-tall lava fountain was visible at 4:30 a.m., with “lava bombs” and other molten material spewing out from the crater floor. As of 5:30 a.m., authorities estimated that 400 acres of the caldera floor were covered in lava.
This volcano, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, has been erupting continuously since 1983. The most recent eruptions were in June and September, Hong said.
A 2018 eruption destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
