Vidostream | News, sport and opinion from the Vidostream's US Edition

https://vidostream.com

Kilauea: Hawaii emergency declared over volcano eruption

Kilauea volcano has erupted near a residential area on Hawaii's largest island, prompting a local state of emergency and the mandatory evacuation of 1,700 residents.
AFP / The volcano's plume of smoke and ash is visible from a great distance

AFP / The volcano's plume of smoke and ash is visible from a great distance

Streams of lava have been seen running through woods and bubbling on to roads.

Extreme levels of dangerous sulphur dioxide gas have been detected in the area, the Civil Defense Agency said.

Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the eruption follows a series of recent earthquakes.

"It sounds like a jet engine," resident Ikaika Marzo told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "It's going hard."

Community centres have been opened to provide shelter for evacuees.

Talmadge Mango, the civil defence administrator for Hawaii County, said that power lines had melted off their poles in one area.

"Seismic activity is still extremely high, so we feel that this might just be the beginning of things," he said.

Mount Kilauea in Hawaii
AFP
The volcano's plume of smoke and ash is visible from a great distance
 

Officials had been warning residents all week they should be prepared to evacuate as an eruption would give little warning.

A volcanic crater vent - known as Puu Oo - collapsed earlier this week, sending lava down the mountain's slopes towards populated areas.

Local resident Stephen Clapper said he had told his mother to pack a bag "just in case", and they wasted no time getting in the car to drive to safety after the eruption.

"My neighbour came running over and said, 'What's that awful noise?'" Mr Clapper told local channel Khon TV. "He said he had never heard a noise like it, and he's been here for 40 years."

Hawaii's Governor, David Ige, says he has activated military reservists from the National Guard to help evacuate thousands of people.

Read More (...)

Source: BBC News:

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.
You did not use the site, Click here to remain logged. Timeout: 60 second