The world’s largest active volcano in Hawaii, in the United States, erupted for the first time in nearly four decades – the last time was in 1984. Mauna Loa erupted on Sunday night, the 27th, according to geological survey State (USGS).
Officials said the eruption began at the summit of the Mauna Loa caldera — about 20,000 meters above the base — inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
“At this time, lava flows are contained within the summit area and do not threaten communities on the slopes,” the Geological Survey said. “The winds can carry volcanic gas and possibly fine ash.”
“Based on past events, the early stages of a Mauna Loa eruption can be very dynamic, and the location and evolution of pyroclastic flows can change rapidly,” the USGS warned.
The eruption came after weeks of warnings from authorities that the volcano might erupt due to a recent surge in seismicity at the volcano’s summit, and that Ilha Grande residents should be prepared to evacuate, NBC-TV reported.
The Geological Survey stated that the “intense shaking” began in mid-September, when earthquakes below the summit increased from 10 to 20 per day to 40 to 50 per day. These disturbances have led to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closing the interior of the ridge.
Ken Hoon of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory said the quakes are mainly due to the weight of the mountain, which is slowly sliding toward the ocean.
The news agency reported that the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency held meetings with island residents to come up with an evacuation plan in case of a possible emergency. News agency🇧🇷
“Don’t panic, but be aware that if you live on the slopes of Mauna Loa, there is potential for some kind of lava catastrophe,” said Tallmadge Magno, director of Hawaii Civil Defense.
The volcano, whose name means “Long Mountain”, covers half of the island’s area. Before its last eruption, it had erupted 33 times starting in 1843, making it one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It is one of six volcanoes in the state of Hawaii.
