In Hawaii, one of the major roads threatened by the lava of Mauna Loa
One of the main roads on the island of Hawaii is threatened by lava from the Mauna Loa volcano. Its closure would force residents to make long detours.
Mauna Loa lava has slowed in recent days as it encounters less steep slopes.
AFP
Lava from Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, which erupted on November 27 after 38 years of calm, is now approaching one of the main roads on the island of Hawaii, according to the American Institute of Geophysics ( USGS).
The “lava front” from one of the volcano’s lava flows is now “about 3.2 miles (5.2 km) from the Daniel Inouye Highway”, nicknamed “Saddle Road”, explains the USGS in its latest bulletin published Thursday evening. This is the main axis to cross the island of Hawaii, the largest of this Pacific archipelago, from east to west. Its closure would force residents to make long detours.
The lava of Mauna Loa — “Long Mountain” in Hawaiian — has slowed in recent days as it encounters less steep slopes and the largest flow was advancing at “40 meters per hour” Thursday noon, according to the Institute.
“Toxic fumes”
At this rate, it could reach the road “at the earliest (…) in a week”, according to the USGS, which recalls however that “many variables” can influence this forecast and the volatile nature of the eruption. It remains contained to the northeast side of the volcano and the authorities, who have not issued an evacuation order, still ensure that the dwellings remain out of danger.
On CNN on Wednesday, Hawaii Governor David Ige warned residents and tourists about “toxic fumes” coming from the volcano. He encouraged people with respiratory problems to “wear a mask”.
The winds can also carry Pele hair, volcanic glass fibers named after the Hawaiian goddess of fire, which form when droplets of lava stretch into fine filaments under the effect of gusts. Sharp as razor blades, they are dangerous for skin and eyes.
4169 meters
Mauna Loa, so wide it covers half of the island of Hawaii, had not erupted since 1984. It then spewed lava for 22 days, producing lava flows that failed to only seven kilometers from the city of Hilo, located northeast of the volcano.
With a peak of 4169 meters, it is one of six active volcanoes in the Hawaiian archipelago and has experienced 33 eruptions since 1843. The archipelago’s main island is also home to a slightly higher volcano, Mauna Kea — 4207 meters above sea level.
Just southeast of Mauna Loa, the Kilauea volcano is experiencing very sustained activity, with almost uninterrupted eruptions between 1983 and 2019. Its latest, minor, has been underway for several months.
AFP
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