U.S. Geological Survey(HONOLULU) — Two new fissures began spewing magma on Saturday as officials in Hawaii warned of the possibility for an “explosive eruption” as lava continued to withdraw from the summit lake at Kilauea.
Hawaii’s Civil Defense Agency announced that a 16th fissure had opened early in the day on Saturday, followed by an announcement at 7 p.m. local time of a 17th fissure. Both fissures were located in the lower East Rift Zone, east of the Puna Geothermal energy plant and northeast of homes in the Lanipuna Gardens subdivision.
The Kilauea volcano first erupted April 3, sending toxic gases into the Big Island’s atmosphere and eventually leading to more than a dozen cracks opening in the neighborhoods of Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens.
Nearly 2,000 people were evacuated from the neighborhoods last week.
Officials already said last week they had moved flammables from Puna Geothermal uphill in case anything starts flowing near them.
The agency said activity from the 16th fissure, which is located in a mostly forested region away from homes, was “minor” and “no significant lava flow was issued from this area.”
In addition to the new fissures, officials with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory were concerned that another volcanic eruption could occur on Kilauea.
“HVO has cautioned about the possibility of an explosive eruption at Halema’uma’u Crater due to the ongoing withdrawal of lava from Kilauea summit lake,” the Civil Defense Agency said in a statement. “This could generate dangerous debris very near the crater and ashfalls up to tens of miles downwind.”
The agency warned previously that boulders the size of refrigerators could be launched from the crater should another eruption take place.
President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in Hawaii on Friday in order to open up federal funding for those on the island affected by the volcano’s eruption.
At least 35 structures, including two dozen homes, have been destroyed since the beginning of the volcanic activity 10 days ago.
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