The Kilauea volcano, situated on Hawaii's Big Island, has erupted for the third time this year, causing concerns but, as per authorities, not posing an immediate threat to local communities. The eruption began on September 10 afternoon, and experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have been monitoring the situation closely.
Webcam images captured by the USGS revealed fissures at the base of Kilauea's crater, generating lava flows on the surface of the crater floor. While these dramatic visuals may raise alarm, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency swiftly reassured residents on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the eruption "does not pose a lava threat to communities." However, they cautioned that volcanic particles and gases released during the eruption could lead to respiratory problems for individuals exposed to them.
The eruption was preceded by a notable period of increased seismic activity and a "rapid uplift" of the volcano's summit, as reported by the USGS. In response to these developments, the agency raised Kilauea's aviation color code from orange to red, signaling increased volcanic activity. Furthermore, the volcano alert level was upgraded from "watch" to "warning," reflecting the heightened concern surrounding the ongoing eruption.
Kilauea, located within a restricted area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is renowned as one of the world's most active volcanoes. In recent memory, the volcano garnered global attention in 2019 when a series of earthquakes and a significant eruption resulted in the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses on the Big Island.
The latest eruption marks the third occurrence in 2023, following earlier events in January and June. While the current eruption is contained within the confines of the volcano's crater floor, residents and authorities are keeping a vigilant eye on the situation, aware of the potential for further developments.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)