Hawaii volcano eruption: WATCH striking aerial footage above HUGE Kilaeau volcano crater
THE HAWAII volcano eruption has caused thousands of people to evacuate after a devastating lava flow destroyed homes and toxic gas threatened nearby residents - shocking aerial footage shows the plunging floor of a Kilauea crater.
Amazing aerial footage shows Kilauea's Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater
The Kilauea volcano explosively erupted on Thursday and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have urged people to take shelter.
Shocking footage from a helicopter flying over Kilauea displays the vast depth of a collapsed floor in a crater of the volcano.
The video from CBS News shows a sinking crater floor looking “considerably different” to what it did two weeks ago, according to the helicopter tour pilot.
Helicopter pilot Sean Reghr said: “Compared to what it used to look like, this is insane. It used to be flat up here with two craters.”
Hawaii volcano eruption: so far no serious injuries have been reported as a result of the eruption
Compared to what it used to look like, this is insane
The lowering lava levels within the volcano, which risk hitting the water table to produce steam, can be the cause of a potentially violent explosion.
Geologists with the Hawaii Volcano Observatory have said activity at Halemaumau Crater shows indicative signs of potential steam-driven explosions.
Hawaii Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara announced he is preparing to potentially evacuate an extra 1,000 people from the Puna area on Big Island.
Around 1,700 people have already been ordered to leave their homes after lava spewed into neighbourhoods and destroyed dozens of homes.
Hawaii volcano: Reporter interrupted as ground SHAKES
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said in a statement microwave-sized "ballistic blocks" had been recovered after being propelled out of Kilauea.
Dr Gertisser continued: "Any explosive activity at Kilauea must be regarded as unusual because predominantly the activity is effusive.
"Recently the alert level was raised to the highest level largely because of these ash emissions at the summit. The ash emissions were up to 3 to 4 km into the atmosphere and pose a hazard to flights and minor hazard to people on the ground from ash fall."
Experts have also warned that the continuous eruption is triggering “more frequent” earthquakes which could cause a tsunami.
Thick ash cloud rises from Hawaiian volcano at golf course
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake hit the volcano’s main crater on Wednesday at 8.30am local time (9.30pm GMT), immediately followed by a 3.9 tremor originated in the summit region of Kilauea.
In the 11 hours that followed, Hawaii’s Big Island was shaken by 27 less intense quakes, raising fears a new eruption was on its way.
So far, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported as a result of the Kilauea volcano eruption.
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