Friday, May 4, 2018

U.S. Hawaii's Most Active Volcano Causes Mass Evacuations. Here's the Latest on the 2018 Kilauea Eruption

×
YOU MIGHT LIKE
HAWAII IS SET TO BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO BAN SUNSCREENS HARMFUL TO CORAL REEFS
By LISA MARIE SEGARRA 
Updated: May 4, 2018 9:19 AM ET
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted Thursday evening forcing 1,500 people to evacuate the area.
Earlier volcanic activity Monday caused a series of earthquakes on Hawaii’s Big Island before Kilauea’s eruption Thursday. The eruption sent lava rolling into the streets of Leilani Estates, a subdivision where nearly 2,000 people live that’s about 220 miles from Honolulu.
“It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could. You could just smell sulfur and burning trees and underbrush and stuff,” resident Jeremiah Osuna told Honolulu television station KHON.
A plume of ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilaueaa Volcano after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
A plume of ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilaueaa Volcano after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
 
U.S. Geolgogical Survey via AP.
Here’s everything we know so far about the 2018 Kilauea eruption, the mandatory evacuations and when the volcano has erupted in the past.

What do we know about the volcano eruption in Hawaii?

Experts said the community of Leilani Estates appears to be at the highest risk, according to the Associated Press. Lava was confirmed at the edge of the Leilani Estates subdivision at around 5 p.m. Thursday, CNN reported. However, that isn’t the only area affected. The Lanipuna Gardens subdivision was also forced to evacuate.
Lava has already flowed in the streets of the subdivision, according to Hawaii Gov. David Ige, who actiated the Hawaii National Guard to assist with ongoing evacuations.
ADVERTISING
Kilauea’s eruption was triggered by a series of small earthquakes earlier this week — and one 5.0-magnitude earthquake Thursday evening — that pushed lava into new underground chambers, according to the AP. That increased lava flow made Puʻu ʻŌʻō, a specific section of Kilauea that has been continuously erupting since 1983, more active — spewing smoke and steam from the volcano.

Where is Kilauea?

Kilauea, which is considered the most active of Hawaii’s five volcanos, is about 212 miles southeast of Honolulu.
Map of distance between Kilauea, Hawaii's most active volcano, and Honolulu.
Map of distance between Kilauea, Hawaii's most active volcano, and Honolulu.
 
Google Maps
The volcano is situated near several small Hawaiian towns that could be affected by the latest eruption — especially if lava continues to flow for weeks, or even months.

When was the last time Kilauea had a major eruption?

Kilauea is Hawaii’s most active volcano and parts of it have been continuously erupting since January 3, 1983. But the last major volcanic eruption at Kilauea was in 2014 and lasted for several months.

How will Kilauea volcano eruption affect air travel?

People are advised to stay away from the evacuated areas near Kilauea, which are on the south side of the island of Hawaii, about 30 miles from Hilo.
Hawaiian Airlines is offering customers travel waivers for flights scheduled for Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4. The new flight must be booked by Friday, May 11 and have to be made for seats in same flight class with the same origin and destination.
end quote from:

No comments: