Hawaii, United States

One of the world's most active volcanoes Kilauea started erupting in a remote area early on Monday (June 3), said the US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The volcano had last erupted a half-century ago.

Advertisment

The eruption is nearly 1.6 km south of the Kilauea caldera in a remote area inside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that had last erupted in December 1974. 

Six hours after the eruption, the observatory said that it did not pose much threat and minor or no ash emission was expected. After a few hours, it was reported that the eruption had "paused".

×

Advertisment

Since 2008,  officials have closed the area around the caldera due to other hazards, which included ground cracking and instability in the crater walls.

Also Read: Kilauea volcano could erupt like a 'stomp-rocket toy', says study

“Glow is visible in webcam imagery, indicating that lava is currently erupting from fissures,” said the USGS observatory. 

Advertisment

Residents are accustomed to such eruptions: mayor

The eruption which had occurred in 1974 lasted for nearly six hours. The observatory added that they cannot tell how long an eruption would last.

“The eruption is currently ongoing but is taking place in a remote location within the national park, is low in eruptive volume and does not pose an immediate threat to human life or critical infrastructure,” said the observatory.

×

Meanwhile, the civil defence officials said, “Some areas may experience elevated gases, take precautions if you are sensitive to volcanic gases.”

Big Island mayor Mitch Roth, speaking on the situation, said that the residents are used to the eruptions happening within the park. 

“People just need to realize this is in one of the safest places it could have happened. Absolutely no property in danger," the mayor said. 

Watch: Iceland volcano erupts again, Reykjanes peninsula sees first chain volcanic event in 800 years

During the Kilauea eruptions, the volcanic gas can prove hazardous to the people since it reacts with the atmosphere to create volcanic smog, or “vog”. 

According to the observatory, the vog can turn into health hazards for residents and visitors, affect livestock and damage plants.

“The only that thing I’m a little worried about right now is air quality,” said Roth. He added that the communities of Oceanview and Naalehu can face some air-quality issues.

Nearly 250 earthquakes were recorded by the observatory beneath the Kilauea summit in the hours before the eruption started. 

(With inputs from agencies)