The latest frightening chapter in this volcano’s long eruption has seen a tourist boat struck by a ‘lava bomb’.
The flying ball of molten rock left a gaping hole in the tour boat which had been taking visitors to view the awe-inspiring site of lava plunging into the ocean.
At least 23 people were injured, three of whom had to be hospitalised.
The boat was about 50 metres out of the demarcated safety zone, which is 300 metres from the active ocean entry.
Added to the hazard of flying lava, officials have warned of the dangers of lava haze – ‘laze’ – toxic fumes caused by lava hitting the ocean.
Laze is a hazardous cloud of hydrochloric acid and glass particles.
Until now, there has only been one serious injury when a man was struck in the leg by a lava bomb while on his third-floor balcony.
About 700 homes have been destroyed as the lava oozes across the island, spreading out into a ‘flow field’ and building up the pre-existing coastline.
Last week, the US Geological Survey observed a new small island off the coast, built up of lava.
The USGS said in a statement: “The new lava island is most likely part of the fissure eight flow that’s entering the ocean—and possibly a submarine tumulus that built up underwater and emerged above sea level.”
The volcano, which has been active since 1983, sprang into action on May 3 after a massive earthquake rocked the island late in April.
A total of 25 fissures pushed out from under the volcano’s belly into the surrounding areas.
Most of the fissures have quietened down, apart from fissure eight which has caused a huge braided lava river snaking its way across the island and hitting the Pacific.
The volcanic fissures also continue to emit sulphur dioxide, which forms a ‘degassing’ phenomenon known as ‘vog’ – volcanic smog.
The USGS defines vog as “a hazy mixture of sulphur dioxide gas and sulphate particles.”
The USGS reports: “Sulphur dioxide emissions from the active fissure remains high. Residents in the lower Puna District of Hawaii Island should stay informed and heed Hawaii County Civil Defence closures, warnings, and messages.”
Some good news for residents of Big Island is that Kilauea’s big sister, Mauna Loa, has decreased in activity.
The massive volcano was on orange warning level, but USGS monitoring has shown “the volcano is no longer at an elevated level of activity”, and the warning has been reduced to green.
No one is able to predict when this period of intense activity will end.
The last prolonged period of activity of Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on earth, lasted for 60 years.