Mauna Loa in Hawaii is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years, and scientists and officials say it does not appear to be a threat to nearby communities.Mauna Loa, the world’s largest and most active volcano, began spewing smoky ash into the air and orange lava down terrains on Hawaii’s big island on Monday.
Authorities in Hawaii have issued an alert as the giant volcano Mauna Loa awakens after 38 years of dormancy.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., lava began to spew from Moku’weoweo, the summit caldera of the Mauna Loa volcano.
MAUNA LOA, THE WORLD’S LARGEST ACTIVE VOLCANO, BEGINS TO ERUPT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY FOUR DECADES.
As soon as the volcano erupted, the Hawai’i County Civil Defense Agency issued a red alert, stating that lava flows were contained within the summit area and did not threaten down slope communities.Three hours later, the agency informed the public that shelters had been set up at Old Kona Airport in Kailua-Kona and Ka’u Gymnasium in Pahala, and that the lava activity was limited to the summit.
The agency’s most recent announcement, made on Monday, stated that lava had exited the summit and was visible in the northeast rift zone, but that no communities were threatened.
Authorities in Hawaii have issued an alert as the giant volcano Mauna Loa awakens after 38 years of dormancy.
EARTHQUAKES SHAKE THE MAUNA LOA VOLCANO IN HAWAII DURING ITS UNREST, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE.
The County Civil Defense drew data from the US Geological Survey, which has been monitoring the eruption since it began.According to the Associated Press, the USGS warned residents of Hawaii that eruptions were dynamic and that lava flows could change quickly, advising them to prepare for worsening conditions.Rift zones, such as the one where lava appeared to be exiting the summit of Mauna Loa, are weakened areas that allow magma to emerge more easily.
Although the rift zone to the northeast poses no threat to the communities to the south or west, Hilo and other towns may eventually find themselves in the path of the lava. Of course, reaching populated areas could take weeks or months, according to the AP.The AP reported that if the lava shifts to a different rift zone to the southwest, it would only take hours or days to reach populated areas.