Hawaii continues to face volcanic gas, lava flows and earthquakes as Kīlauea Volcano remains active
Dangerous conditions are persisting on the eastern side of Hawaii's Big Island this weekend as the Kīlauea Volcano remains active.
The volcano first erupted last Thursday. Evacuations of nearby communities ensued, including in the Leilani Estates subdivision.
According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and U.S. Geological Survey, "as the eruption progresses, other areas of the lower East Rift Zone may also be at risk."
This mainly includes areas that are in the path of potential lava flows and the formation of additional fissure vents and resulting hazardous gasses and rock falls.
Steaming cracks open on Pohoiki Road just east of Leilani Street in the Leilani Estates Subdivision on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. https://t.co/5w1RIQyCCC pic.twitter.com/7cg9zimA7b — USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) May 6, 2018
Residents are also being warned of the dangers of exposure to gasses from burning structures and asphalt.
Frequent earthquakes have been rattling the island, with most below magnitude 3.0. Early Sunday morning, a 4.3 magnitude earthquake occurred offshore of the Big Island. No tsunami is expected.
On Friday, a 6.9 magnitude quake struck the island, resulting in minor damage and heightening eruption concerns.
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The Volcano Observatory warns that "residents of the Puna District should remain alert, review individual, family and business emergency plans, and watch for further information about the status of the volcano."
Everyone on the Big Island is urged to review earthquake preparedness and survival tips as well.
Confirmation of five homes destroyed
The county mayor confirmed five houses have been destroyed. However, lava flows are reportedly "sluggish and not moving very quickly or far," according to the USGS.
Sulfur dioxide levels remain high in the area surrounding the lava flows and fissures, posing a threat to those nearby.
It is especially important that the elderly, young and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions keep their distance from this volatile area.
“Please understand the unpredictability of these hazards,” the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense stated. “The American Red Cross and the Department of Parks and Recreation have opened shelters at the Pahoa Community Center and the Kea’au Community Center for your use.”
The civil defense also issued an emergency water restriction for Department of Water Supply customers of Leilani Estates Subdivision, among others.
Public water stations have been set up in Lava Tree State Park and in Vacationland for public use.
According to local media, a new fissure broke out in Leilani Estates around 9:30 p.m. local time, "violently" spewing lava and bringing the total amount of fissures to 10.
This story is ongoing. For older reports from the aftermath of the volcano erupting, please see this news story.
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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