[ad_1]
hawaii [US]Nov. 29 (ANI): When Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano erupted for the first time in 40 years, lava shot into the air and flowed down the slopes.
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, began erupting Sunday night (local time) and lava flowed from its summit on Monday morning, the US Geological Survey said.
Read also | Pakistan shock: Man allegedly killed wife, three daughters with knife in Karachi.
“Lava flows in the summit area are visible from Kona. Winds may carry volcanic gases and possibly fine ash and Bailey’s Hair (a type of volcanic glass) downwind,” the Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO) said.
The lava is not expected to threaten populated areas, officials said.
Read also | An American bat species ravaged by the fungus is now listed as endangered.
“The lava flow did not threaten any downhill communities, and all indications are that the Northeast Rift Zone will still erupt,” the USGS said in a statement.
At a news conference Monday afternoon, Ken Hon, head of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, said officials did not expect the lava flow to reach the more populated Southeast Rift Valley.
“To our knowledge, there has never been an eruption of Mauna Loa that activated two rift zones simultaneously or during the same eruption, in any historical precedent,” Han said. “So we’re assuming for now that all future activity will be in the northeast rift zone, not the southeast rift zone. So residents of that region don’t have to worry about lava flows.”
Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843, according to the US Geological Survey. It last erupted in 1984, when lava spilled from the slopes and reached within 4.5 miles of Hilo.
The lava flow, which is very similar to the one that erupted in 1984, could threaten populated areas around Hilo, Hon said.
He added that “only a few eruptions” moved into the suburbs and reached Hilo.
Still, the agency warned all Hawaii Island residents “at risk of the Mauna Loa lava flow” to “review preparedness and refer to Hawaii County Civil Defense information for further guidance.”
The agency warned that the early stages of the eruption could be dynamic, adding that “the lava flow may change rapidly.”
Residents were also warned that volcanic gases, ash and fine glass fibers known as Bailey’s hair could be carried downwind.
The Hawaii Volcano Observatory said it “is consulting closely with emergency management partners and will monitor the volcano closely to provide further updates on activity.”
A satellite captured images of Sunday’s eruption from space. NOAA released images of the volcano’s thermal signature and sulfur dioxide release.
Mauna Loa’s Hawaiian name means “long mountain” because the massive mountain stretches for about 74 miles from the edge of the island’s southern coast to the summit caldera, or rim of the caldera, the crater The eruption began on Sunday night. (Arnie)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
[ad_2]
Source link