Hawaii issued an aviation red alert Tuesday after the Kilauea volcano spewed a plume of ash into the air, with authorities warning the volcano could become more explosive.
Rising up to 12,000 feet, ash and volcanic smog drifted southwest over 18 miles from the Kilauea crater, Reuters reports.
“We’re observing more or less continuous emission of ash now with intermittent, more energetic ash bursts or plumes,” Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) Deputy Scientist-In-Charge Steve Brantley told reporters.
“At any time, activity may become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent,” the HVO said in a later statement.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a red alert means a major eruption is imminent or underway and ash could affect air traffic. It is the first time the alert has been issued since Kilauea began erupting again 12 days ago, according to Reuters.
The ash is a new hazard to hit Hawaii’s Big Island since the latest volcanic eruptions began. Volcanic gas and lava have destroyed 37 homes and structures and prompted the evacuation of about 2,000 residents.
On Monday, the Hawaii County Civil Defense issued a “condition red” alert for air quality around Lanipuna Gardens after a fissure opened up, releasing toxic gases. Residents were warned to stay away as the gas could cause “choking and inability to breathe.”
Ash plume rises from fissure at Kīlauea volcano on May 15. 

On Thursday morning, before dawn, Hawaii's   erupted again, sending up an ash plume to an altitude of 30,000  (9,100 ).  This follows an earlier eruption Tuesday afternoon, after which authorities issued an aviation alert and to extend an  advisory for residents.  The current eruption event began May 3 and has caused thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

Robert Hughes, whose Aloha Junction Bed and Breakfast, is only 1.5 miles from the volcano's crater described the day as otherwise "a nice rainy day" and reportedly some nearby residents slept through the 4:00AM  eruption (1400 ).

Hawaii is one of the United States and an  in the Pacific Ocean. Kīlauea is located on the island of Hawaii, generally called the  The 2018 eruptions at Kīlauea first started on May 3. Since then, about 20  have opened, cracking concrete and giving off steam, lava and toxic gases.
Lava flows on a road in Hawaii on May 5. 
The  (HVO) issued a "notice for aviation" to alert pilots of dangerous conditions. "We're observing more or less continuous emission of ash now with intermittent, more energetic ash bursts or plumes," said Steve Brantley of the HVO. The  (USGS) also issued a "red alert" which means "major volcanic activity is imminent, underway or suspected with hazardous conditions both on the ground and in the air." 

The  extended its advisory about ash-fall as winds spread the ash and cause elevated risk of respiratory problems for residents. By mid-morning on Thursday, the warning ran until midday (12:00 local, 2200 UTC).

Monday, authorities reported fissures throwing  and boulders as far as 500 feet (about 150 meters).  The volcanic eruption has  destroyed dozens of buildings, and necessitated the evacuation of more than 2000 people.

The initial eruption was accompanied by a magnitude-6.9 earthquake and followed by many smaller quakes thereafter. Dozens of homes and other buildings, as well as roads, have been destroyed. However, the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency sought to calm public worries about a  on Tuesday, stating: "according to the HVO there is no geologic evidence for an tsunami-generating earthquake at this time. Any such event is extremely unlikely."

The lava released so far has been slow and relatively cool, left over from an earlier event in the 1950s, but there were concerns that fresh, fast-moving lava may be right behind. Although the current eruption event began May 3, technically the volcano hasn't stopped erupting since 1983.



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CAT:HawaiiCAT:Natural disastersCAT:United States