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USGS
Ash covers an information panel near the summit of Kilauea as gases and ash continues to spew forth af Thursday's massive eruption. |
THE BIGGEST eruption since Hawaii’s Kilauea began rumbling two weeks ago occured Thursday morning. Residents ordered to take shelter as the volcano sends a plume of ash 30,000-feet into the sky and masks were handed out to locals.
Residents near Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii woke up early Thursday morning to the biggest explosion yet that prompted an order from the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency to shelter in place.
At about 5 a.m. Thursday (May 17), the Hawaii County CDA sent out a tweet ordering residents to shelter in place.
A Code Red alert has been issued to air traffic warning pilots to stay away from the area.
The USGS has alerted locals to evacuate the area, as giant rocks are sent flying into the air. As of Friday morning, the USGS report that seismic levels have been gradually increasing but "no additional explosions have occurred."
USGS officials warn that sulfer dioxide continues to seep from the 21 fissures creeping away from the Kilauea summit that may cause choking and difficulty in breathing. The shelter-in-place warning remains in effect.
Hawaii Volcano Observatory officials confirmed that there was an explosive eruption, but they still have yet to assess whether it was a steam-driven explosion that had been previously predicted in the area.
The state Civil Defense agency said the plume was drifting northeast and warned residents to shelter in place. Driving conditions may be dangerous due to low visibility, the agency warned.
The steam-driven explosion occurred within Halema’uma’u Crater at Kilauea's summit at about 4:17 a.m. local time, and few Big Island residents were out and about.
After the massive explosion, 18,000 masks that protect from particulates like ash were given out Thursday. More masks are on the way for those choosing not to evacuate.
The masks do not protect against sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas that is still seeping from 21 fissures caused by volcanic activity. No new fissures, or vents in the ground, opened Thursday, he said.
Scientists with the USGS have not yet figured out the cause of explosions like the one that happened Thursday morning but they expect them to continue.
"At any time, activity may again become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent," the USGS said. "
At about 5 a.m. Thursday (May 17), the Hawaii County CDA sent out a tweet ordering residents to shelter in place.
A Code Red alert has been issued to air traffic warning pilots to stay away from the area.
The USGS has alerted locals to evacuate the area, as giant rocks are sent flying into the air. As of Friday morning, the USGS report that seismic levels have been gradually increasing but "no additional explosions have occurred."
USGS officials warn that sulfer dioxide continues to seep from the 21 fissures creeping away from the Kilauea summit that may cause choking and difficulty in breathing. The shelter-in-place warning remains in effect.
Hawaii Volcano Observatory officials confirmed that there was an explosive eruption, but they still have yet to assess whether it was a steam-driven explosion that had been previously predicted in the area.
The state Civil Defense agency said the plume was drifting northeast and warned residents to shelter in place. Driving conditions may be dangerous due to low visibility, the agency warned.
RELATED: Hawaiians muster up 'ohana'"At any time, activity may again become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent," the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Kilauea status page.
The steam-driven explosion occurred within Halema’uma’u Crater at Kilauea's summit at about 4:17 a.m. local time, and few Big Island residents were out and about.
After the massive explosion, 18,000 masks that protect from particulates like ash were given out Thursday. More masks are on the way for those choosing not to evacuate.
The masks do not protect against sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas that is still seeping from 21 fissures caused by volcanic activity. No new fissures, or vents in the ground, opened Thursday, he said.
Scientists with the USGS have not yet figured out the cause of explosions like the one that happened Thursday morning but they expect them to continue.
"At any time, activity may again become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent," the USGS said. "
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