Hawaii volcano ERUPTION: 'Explosions all night and ALL DAY' Residents share their stories
THE HAWAII volcano, Mount Kilauea has now caused fissures that spread across the south of the Island causing 10,000 people to be evacuated from Hawaii’s Big Island.
Hawaii resident describes TERRIFYING explosions from Kilauea
Residents of the island were warned to take shelter from the ash fallout as toxic gas levels spiked in a small southeast area where lava has burst from the ground since the eruption began two weeks ago, authorities said.
Janet Downing, a resident near the Hawaii volcano told BBC: “You can hear the fissures, you can hear the explosions all night and all day.
“Lately we have had about a hundred earthquakes a day. The biggest one we’ve had so far was 6.9.”
Cory Power, a resident who has left his home said: “For many days I was sitting there in my house thinking that I didn’t have to leave.
You can hear the fissures, you can hear the explosions all night and all day
“Then the activity increased enormously.”
Residents in the Puna community, home to about 10,000 people, were ordered to evacuate after public works officials reported steam and lava emissions from a crack.
At least 35 structures had been destroyed, many of them homes, officials said.
Lieutenant Colonel Chuck Anthony “Basically it is a wall of lava that just sort of marched towards the sea. This wasn’t here twelve hours ago.
Expert warns Hawaii residents of 'laze' from Kilauea volcano
“What we are concerned about is the possibility of new fissures opening up, or even lava travelling in tubes under the surface that could spring up elsewhere.”
The leading edge of the lava can reach temperatures of about 2,100 Fahrenheit (1,149 Celsius).
The lava has now reached the Pacific Ocean, which can prove hazardous for those living near the ocean.
The Coast Guard has enforced a safety zone that extends 300 metres around where the lava is pouring into the sea.