Hawaii volcano update: What island is the volcano erupting on? Latest aerial pictures
Lava began pouring from a fissure at an unexpectedly rapid rate on Tuesday, forcing officials to close off parts of a highway, further blocking escape routes. The island which has been suffering Kilauea’s fiery grip is Hawaii’s Big Island, the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago. This period of activity has been raging since May 3, and, entering its fourth week of exploding, shows no signs of slowing down. This is being cited as an unprecedented event, as there are two eruptions occurring simultaneously: the eruption at its summit crater and along a six-mile string of fissures 25 miles down its east flank.
Lava flows from 24 open fissures have blocked roads and devoured dozens of buildings across the island. It has also destroyed more than 400 electric poles and other equipment, causing power outages across Big Island. The US Geological Survey reported a lava fountain from an open fissure spurting up to 60 metres on Monday. Fissures 7 and 21, near the island’s power-providing geothermal plant, have sprung back to life and lava has inundated the plant. Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV), which provides a quarter of the island's electricity, stores the highly flammable chemical pentane, 50,000 gallons of which have already been moved from harm’s way.
EPA Lava began pouring from a fissure at an unexpectedly rapid rate on Tuesday
Getty This is being cited as an unprecedented event, as there are two eruptions occurring simultaneously
EPA Lava flows from 24 open fissures have blocked roads and devoured dozens of buildings
Reuters Residents are also facing the hazard presented by the ash clouds which are erupting from the summit
The plant also has wells which run thousands of metres into the earth’s core to tap into extremely hot water and steam, used to run turbines and produce electricity. Lava has now penetrated two of these wells, and officials are hoping their efforts to cap them will be enough to prevent a rupture. The Israeli-controlled operator, Ormat Technologies Inc, said it had not been able to assess the damage yet. A geothermal plant has never been engulfed by lava anywhere in the world before, so the extent of the risk is largely unknown, and residents fear a massive toxic substance leak.
Hawaii volcano: Dramatic pictures of Kilauea volcano destroying homes Wed, May 30, 2018 Hawaii volcano eruption 2018: Dramatic pictures as lava from the Kilauea volcano eruptions destroys over 40 homes in the area. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 36 An aerial view of a home bursting into flames as it is consumed by lava in Pahoa