Hawaii: World's Largest Active Volcano Mauna Loa Erupting, Alert Level Raised

Hawaii's Big Island and surrounding seas are under an ashfall alert Monday due to the first eruption in 38 years of Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano.

On some areas of the island, ashfall might reach a depth of up to a quarter inch.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu advised that anybody outside "should cover their mouth and nose with a mask" or piece of cloth to prevent breathing in ash particles if they have respiratory conditions.

Potential damage to plants and animals, infrastructure, and equipment will only be slight, as per the advisory. It added that there will be diminished visibility and a need for widespread cleanup as Mauna Loa erupting.

According to a tweet from the Hawaii Tourism Authority on Monday morning, the eruption in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park poses no threat to downstream villages or flights to the island of Hawaii.

Lava Fountains Sighted

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has reported that lava flows are confined to the volcano's summit and pose no danger to towns located lower on the volcano's slopes, according to CNN. Fine ash and volcanic gas may be carried downwind by winds.

The eruption started at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday in Mokuaweoweo, the Mauna Loa erupting volcano's top caldera, according to experts at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

USGS cameras at the summit displayed lengthy cracks spewing lava fountains extending along the caldera floor.

Lava was once believed to be restricted to the caldera, according to the US Geological Survey. However, within two hours of the eruption's beginning, people living on the volcano's Kona side captured photographs that looked to show lava beginning to pour down the mountain."

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory noted: "All vents remain restricted to the summit area." It added that from Kona, it is possible to see the lava flows that are present towards the peak. Plus, no evidence of the eruption moving into a rift zone is currently present.

Residents Reportedly Evacuating

The USGS posted on Twitter, "There are some reports that lava is overtopping the caldera to the south." However, the agency stated that they were working to verify the reports because erupted vents remained confined to the caldera at the time of Mauna Loa erupting.

The Hawaii County Civil Defense has prepared shelters in Ka'u at the Robert Herkes Gymnasium in Pahala and Kailua-Kona at the Old Airport Gymnasium (Kailua Park) after learning that people were voluntarily leaving the south Kona shore.

The Hawaii County Civil Defense has advised residents who are in danger of Mauna Loa lava flows to examine their preparation plans and contact them for additional advice.

The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984, as per a report from Hawaii News Now.

According to the US Geological Survey, there were between five and ten earthquakes every day in June 2022, while there were between ten and twenty per day in July and August.

On September 23 and September 29, the number of earthquakes peaked at over 100 per day, according to the CNN report.

The Mauna Loa summit was shut off to all backcountry hikers in October due to excessive activity, but the main part of the park has stayed accessible, according to the US National Park Service.

The Deccan Herald reported that aerial surveillance will be done by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to evaluate dangers and provide a more accurate description of Mauna Loa erupting.

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Hawaii, Erupting volcano, Volcano, Science, United States