World’s largest active volcano erupts in Hawaii
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, has erupted for the first time in almost 40 years.
Although the majority of the lava flow is contained within the summit, residents have been placed on high alert and were previously warned about the possibility of ash falling.
According to the US Geological Service (USGS), things could change quickly.
The highest alert level for the volcano has also been raised from “advisory” to “warning.”
Emergency officials claim that populated areas are unlikely to be affected at this point, and no evacuation orders have been issued.
‘Warning of an eruption following many recent earthquakes’
Mauna Loa, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, covers half of the Big Island in the US state of Hawaii. The volcano has a height of 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above sea level and covers more than 2,000 square miles (5,179 square kilometres).
At Moku’weoweo, the volcano’s summit caldera, it erupted at 23:30 local time on Sunday (9:30 GMT on Monday). After an eruption, hollows called calderas form beneath the summit.
There had been a series of warnings that an eruption could happen after a spate of recent earthquakes in the region. More than a dozen tremors were reported on Sunday.
‘Overnight advisory for ashfall’
The overnight advisory for ashfall, which has the potential to contaminate water supplies, kill vegetation, and irritate the lungs, has since been lifted.
According to the USGS, “Based on past events, the early stages of a Mauna Loa eruption can be very dynamic, and the location and advance of lava flows can change quickly.”
Lava flows could “move rapidly downslope” if the eruption moves beyond the summit caldera’s walls, it added.
