Hawaii volcano eruption aerial view: Latest pictures of Kilauea volcano eruption
HAWAII’S Kilauea volcano continues to wreak havoc across Big Island, pouring molten hot lava across Big Island and into the sea creating a deadly volcanic haze, while the crater erupts shooting massive plumes of ash and ballistic blocks the size of cars into the air. Here are the latest aerial pictures of Hawaii’s volcanic eruption.
Expert issues warning about toxic gas from Hawaii volcano
The volcano took an even deadlier turn over the weekend, when lava from the 22 open fissures finally hit the ocean, creating a volcanic haze, or ‘laze’.
Laze is a mix of hydrochloric acid fumes, steam and tiny specks of volcanic glass. It is created when lava reacts with sea water, and can reach 1,093 degrees Celsius (2,000 degrees Fahrenheit).
The toxic fumes can be deadly, producing a haze of acid fumes, steam, and tiny glass-like particles - even the tiniest wisp of laze can cause serious eye and respiratory problems. It killed two people in 2000.
The biggest concern now is erratic wind, making it hard for officials to predict where the laze will spread.
The air quality index for the town of Kona, about 40 miles northwest of the volcano, is currently at ‘orange’, meaning that the elderly and those with respiratory problems could be at risk.
There is also the ever-present risk of vog - volcanic smog - a toxic sulphur dioxide gas which is vented from the active volcano.
Civil defence has warned that levels of vog have more than tripled over the weekend, adding that residents should "take action necessary to limit further exposure."
Scientist-In-Charge at the US Geological Survey Michael Poland said it is impossible to tell how long this activity will go on for.
“It’s difficult to say with any certainty,” he said. “Forecasting the end is surprisingly hard."
However, it certainly looks like it’s far from over as experts warned the eruptions could actually become more explosive in coming days.
“It could continue for weeks, if not months," said Mr Poland.
The biggest cause for concern is that USGS data is showing the lava being produced is now fresher, meaning it comes from deeper within the volcano and is fuelling new eruptions.
So far, there has been one serious injury caused by this activity, when a man standing on the third floor balcony of his home had his leg splattered with lava.
Mark Clawson, a friend of the victim, saw the five-pound lava bomb hit his neighbour, and reports hearing a blood-curdling scream.
He said: "Most of [the lava bombs] arc high in the air, but every now and again there's one that gets shot like a rifle, more horizontal and that's what happened here.”
He witnessed doctors picking hardened shards of lava out of his friends leg, but luckily the prognosis is good for the injury.
Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on earth and has been in constant eruption since 1983, turning explosive on May 3.
Around 2,000 people have had to flee their homes, dozens of houses and other buildings have been destroyed, and massive expanses of land have been engulfed .