New lava fissures, ground deformation and abundant volcanic gases indicate eruptions on the eastern flank of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii are likely to continue, experts said on Sunday.
Thousands of people have fled their homes on Big Island and dozens of structures have been destroyed. Geologists have warned that Kilauea’s summit could have an explosive steam eruption that would spew ash 20,000ft (6,100 metres) high and spread debris up to 12 miles (19km).
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On Sunday morning, an 18th fissure was reported. The Hawaii County Civil Defense issued an alert that steam and lava spatter were coming from the new fissure, to the west of Highway 132, along Hale Kamahina Loop Road. Residents on that road were ordered to evacuate. Two community centers were open to shelter people and pets.
Two new fissures opened on Saturday, around the Leilani Estates neighborhood. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the 17th fissure, which opened around 6pm on Saturday, was spattering but no flow had formed. The 16th fissure spilled lava into a field earlier in the day, close to several homes.
“It’s right by my house, which is kind of scary,” said Haley Clinton, 17, who walked to see the new crack with her father, Darryl, and sister Jolon, 15. “It’s really cool.”
From afar, the fissure gave off dull, thumping roars that sharpened to a scream from venting steam and gas, mixed with the slapping sounds of liquid lava. Within hours, the fissure had piled reddish-black lava about 40ft (12 metres) high and at least 150ft (45 metres) in length. Chunks of magma were spewed 100ft (30 metres) into the air.
The intense heat left onlookers drenched with sweat and the air was filled with an acrid, burned scent. With gas and smoke blowing in the opposite direction, there was no pungent smell of toxic sulfur dioxide.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that the fissures opened just east of the Puna Geothermal Venture plant. Plant workers last week removed 50,000 gallons of pentane gas stored at the site. Shortly after the 16th fissure opened, the observatory said seismic activity remained “elevated” at Kilauea’s 4,000ft summit. The USGS reported that a shallow but small earthquake with a magnitude of 3.5 hit the island on Saturday.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest A lava fissure erupts as a resident stands nearby in Pahoa, Hawaii. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Kilauea’s vents have been oozing relatively cool, sluggish magma left over from a similar event in 1955. Fresher magma could now emerge behind it. As the area affected widens, residents were racing to buy respirators to cope with the ash and toxic gases. David Baxter, 54, an employee of Pahoa Auto Parts, said the shop had sold about 3,000 respirators so far. The shop was all out on Saturday.
“We pretty much bought up every [respirator] in the state, and we are selling them at cost – actually, a slight loss,” said Baxter. “We need to breathe.”
Some pets have been left behind as residents have fled. The Hawaii Island Humane Society said it had rescued 16 dogs, three rabbits, four tortoises and four cats. Almost all had been picked up by their owners, and 1,400 livestock and 32 horses had also been taken from the volcano zone, the society said in a statement.
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