Mauna Loa volcano started erupting overnight

For the first time in 38 years, the Mauna Loa volcano is erupting.

quote:

---

USGS webcams at the summit clearly showed a long fissure erupting fountains of lava which was spreading along the caldera floor.

---

quote:

---

On Twitter, the USGS said “There are some reports now that lava is overtopping to caldera to the south. We’re working to confirm those reports. But eruptive vents continue to be confined to the caldera for now.”

No evacuations have been requested, but Hawaii County opened shelters, in Ka’u at the Robert Herkes Gymnasium in Pahala, and at the Old Airport Gymnasium (Kailua Park) in Kailua-Kona after reports that residents were self-evacuating from the South Kona coast.

---

*UPDATE:
Not a lot happened during the day. Lava is contained within the caldera, except for a lava flow from a fissure in the northern side of the volcano. No property is endangered at this time, and officials expect any future flow to be contained to that Northeast Rift Zone.