RIP Wayne Guest

[rooster59]

Hawaii braces for worse lava flows from erupting volcano

By Terray Sylvester

 

Molten rock flows and burst to the surface, threatening homes in a rural area in this still image from an aerial video taken from a Hawaii Army National Guard a week after the eruption of the Kilauea volcano, in Pahoa, Hawaii, U.S., May 10, 2018. Courtesy Andrew Jackson/Hawaii DoD/Handout via REUTERS

 

PAHOA, Hawaii (Reuters) - More destructive lava flows could soon hit Hawaii’s Big Island as the Kilauea volcano erupts, posing a greater threat than oozing magma that has so far destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate, scientists said on Friday.

 

As a lava lake at Kilauea's summit drains inside the volcano, magma is running underground. It could burst to the surface as large, fast-moving and intensely hot lava flows and produce higher levels of toxic gases, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge Tina Neal said.

 

"What will take a turn for the worse in terms of hazard is if hotter, fresher magma makes it to the surface, and that could be what is coming," Neal told a conference call. "Once a new batch of hotter, gassier magma makes it to the surface we might see larger, higher eruption rates."

 

Fifteen large cracks or fissures have opened on the eastern flank of Kilauea since the volcano erupted eight days ago. The volcanic vents have oozed relatively cool, sluggish magma left over from a similar event in 1955. Fresher magma could now emerge behind it.

 

In addition, Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, threatens to begin a series of explosive eruptions within days or weeks that could form huge clouds of volcanic smog, or vog, and hurl boulders as big as small cars.

 

Geologists expect new lava outbreaks in or around the hard-hit Leilani Estates area in the southeastern Puna district, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Hilo, where 27 homes have been destroyed and all 1,900 residents have been evacuated.

 

Local residents got a text message alert at 11 a.m. warning them they could have little or no time to evacuate in the event of future eruptions.

 

"I GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE"

 

Ron Peters, 59, knew it was time to leave his home in the Opihikao community, 2.6 miles from Leilani Estates, when fruit trees and other vegetation began to die in the rotten-egg-smelling clouds of sulphur-dioxide gas.

 

"When you start seeing ferns go brown overnight, it's like, 'Wow, I gotta get out of here,'" said Peters, sitting at a Red Cross evacuation centre at a sports centre in nearby Pahoa.

 

His wife refused to leave and stayed to care for their dogs and chickens.

 

He went back for her on Thursday, fearing she and the animals would be dead. One of the dogs was having trouble moving but his wife was still alive. He set his chickens free.

 

"The gas fumes were just too much," he said, sitting at a baseball diamond with his dogs tied beside him.

 

While locals contend with lava and gas on the ground, explosions at Kilauea's summit some 25 miles (40 km) to the west were dusting communities with ash that irritated eyes and breathing.

 

Volcanic smog may be blowing hundreds of miles from Kilauea, with people on the streets of state capital Honolulu, around 210 miles (340 km) northwest on the island of Oahu, complaining it was "very voggy" on Friday.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-12

[Stargeezr]

Good Luck Hawaii, it looks like this volcano will continue its destruction for  a lot longer.    I guess I will wait a bit to take my trip to that Island.

Geezer

[DefaultName]

One good thing about lava flows; they release pressure, so a big explosion is less likely.

[mrwebb8825]

Nature reclaiming nature. Never understood people who purposely live in areas that are destroyed by nature often and then whine to the federal government to rebuild their homes, cities and lives.

[Credo]

14 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Nature reclaiming nature. Never understood people who purposely live in areas that are destroyed by nature often and then whine to the federal government to rebuild their homes, cities and lives.

You mean like people who live near forests that sometimes burn, rivers that sometimes floods and oceans that hurricanes?

 

Where would you suggest people live?

[mrwebb8825]

7 minutes ago, Credo said:

You mean like people who live near forests that sometimes burn, rivers that sometimes floods and oceans that hurricanes?

 

Where would you suggest people live?

Since the OP is about people living on an active volcano... 

Yes, I suppose you could include places built on a yearly to 5 yr flood plain.

[Jingthing]

39 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Nature reclaiming nature. Never understood people who purposely live in areas that are destroyed by nature often and then whine to the federal government to rebuild their homes, cities and lives.

It's a case by case thing, but in areas that have been repeatedly hit by natural disasters, it would be better for the government to help people move somewhere else than keep rebuilding in very high risk areas. Particularly about coastal flooding. 

 

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2017/10/25/taxpayers-subsidize-repeated-rebuilding-homes-flood-zones
 

Quote

 Over time, the program has become a bottomless cash pit that subsidizes homeowners with taxpayer dollars to rebuild over and over in flood-prone areas. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas,  puts it succinctly: To rebuild "the same home, in the same fashion, in the same location and expect a different result, we all know that's the classic definition of insanity."