'Fountains' of lava reported in cracks after 5.0 earthquake in Hawaii;Evacuations underway

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PUNA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Mandatory evacuations are underway in Leilani Estates, where "fountains" of lava are shooting in the air, residents say


Authorities are responding to a lava outbreak in Leilani Estates, where officers are going door-to-door to tell residents to evacuate.

Hawaii County Civil Defense is urging residents in the Puna community, home to about 10,000 residents, to get out now. The American Red Cross of Hawaii has opened an emergency shelter at Pahoa Community Center.

Residents and social media posts show lava spewing from cracks in roadways. Resident Ikaika Marzo said he could see "fountains" of lava in the community.

The lava outbreak was first reported about 4:30 p.m., some six hours after a 5.0-magnitude earthquake shook the Big Island Thursday morning. That quake came after after hundreds of small tremors rattled the island since last week.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the larger quake Thursday caused rockfalls and possibly an additional collapse into the Puu O'o crater, but no other significant changes at the volcano. The plume dissipated as it drifted southwest, dropping ash on some nearby communities.

The quake happened around 10:30 a.m., and was centered in the south flank of Kilauea volcano at a depth of 6.9 kilometers, the USGS said. It was originally reported as a 4.6-magnitude tremor, but its strength was later increased.

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Earlier Thursday, seismic activity had flagged — a good sign — but officials continued to stress that residents along Kilauea's east rift zone should continue to prepare for a possible eruption.

The first signs of trouble in Leilani Estates came about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, when residents reported plumes of smoke spewing from cracks in the road.

On Wednesday, cracks were also reported on the road in Leilani Estates, but officials reported they did not pose a lava threat.

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“Should an eruption occur, residents along the east rift zone may have little warning. Residents in that area should be prepared to evacuate,” said Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno. "The risk areas and possible hazards are being identified."

Volcano experts said the quakes were being caused by a river of rising magma flowing down toward Puna, extending east (and possibly even under Highway 130).

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HVO research geophysicist Jim Kauahikaua said the seismic activity seen in recent days is similar to what happened before an eruption of Kilauea in February 1955. During that eruption, at least 24 separate volcanic vents opened up and lava covered about 3,900 acres.

Kauahikaua said coastal communities from Kalapana to Kapoho were evacuated and "sections of every public road to the coastline were buried by lava" before the eruption abruptly stopped in May 1955.

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