Hawaii volcano fissures MAP: How many fissures have reactivated? Map of Kilauea fissures
HAWAII’S Kilauea volcano has explosively erupted sending a huge ash plume into the air as residents have been warned it could be the first in a string of more violent eruptions. The eruption has reactivated fissures, so how many have reactivated? Here is a map of the latest fissures.
Kilauea sent ash 30,000ft (9,100m) into the sky when it violently exploded on Thursday at around 4.15am local time (2.15pm BST).
Residents were urged to take shelter from the ash as toxic gas levels spiked in a small southeast area.
Lava has continued to burst from the ground across several fissures in the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens area.
There are now a total of 21 fissures, the 21st fissure opened in Leilani Estates on Thursday, while other fissures have reactivated with lava.
Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said in a statement on Thursday evening (local time): “The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has reported a new fissure 21 down rift of Makamae Street in Leilani Estates.
“Several fissures have reactivated. HVO reports lava is pahoehoe, and flows have been generated.”
Pahoehoe is when basaltic lava arms smooth undulating or ropy masses.
The agency did not specific how many fissures had reactivated.
Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency
Aerial footage shows lava spitting and boiling up from a fissure and smoke pouring from the huge spilt in the ground.
A red aviation code had already been issued, warning pilots to avoid the potentially damaging ash cloud.
Across the Big Island, which is home to 20,000 residents, people were encouraged to take caution driving, as ash fall can make roads slippery, and not go outdoors unless necessary.
Geologists had warned of steam-driven explosions as the falling lava lake drops below the water table, triggering violent explosions as the magma meets underground water, which could hurl rocks and ash miles into the sky.
EPA
However scientists said Thursday’s eruption was not particularly large and US Geological Survey geologist Michelle Coombs said most of the debris ejected from the crater likely fell near the explosion site.
“This has relieved pressure temporarily,” Ms Coombs told a news conference in Hilo. “We may have additional larger, powerful events.”
Although, officials said the activity is likely to continue, citing a similar series of events in 1924 which lasted two and a half weeks and killed one person who was hit by a “ballistic block.”
The USGS said: “At any time, activity may again become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent.
Reuters
“Ballistic projectiles may be produced should steam-driven explosions occur. Impacts will be limited to an area around Halemaumau.”
Geologists said it was extremely unlikely Kilauea would have a massive eruption similar to 1790 which killed dozens of people in the deadliest eruption to occur in what is now the United States.
Thursday’s eruption lasted only a few minutes, but Ms Coombs called it “a big event that got people’s attention, but did not have widespread impact.”