Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Eruption: New Vent Forces Evacuations

PAHOA, HI — Some residents near Hawaii's Kilauea volcano have been ordered to evacuate after officials confirmed an 18th fissure opened up that has been spattering lava and steam. Police and public works employees verified reports of a new fissure that opened up on Halekamahina Loop Road to the west of Highway 132, the County Civil Defense Agency said Sunday.

"At this time, steam and lava spatter activity has started from this new fissure," officials said.

Residents of Hale Kamahina Loop Road have been ordered to evacuate, the agency said.

The Pahoa Community Center and Kea’au Community Center remain open. Food will be provided and residents can bring their pets to the shelters.

Lava and poisonous gas from fissures, or volcanic vents, have slowly crept into neighborhoods and scorched dozens of homes and vehicles.

About 2,000 people have evacuated since May 3 as 2,200-degree lava threatens homes and a geothermal plant, USA Today reported.

The evacuations come hours after officials late Saturday warned about the possibility of an "explosive eruption" at Halema'uma'u Crater due to ongoing withdrawal of lava from Kilauea summit lake.

"This could generate dangerous debris very near the crater and ashfalls up to tens of miles downwind," officials said in a Facebook post.

Civil Defense officials warn rocks the size of refrigerators could be hurtled half a mile a away. Ash clouds could billow up to 20,000 feet into the sky and blanket an area covering a dozen miles.

Steve Brantley, a researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser they have "all the warning signs" they need.

“There may not be any additional warning before the magma actually starts moving up to the surface," he warned.

Furthermore, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported a magnitude 4.3 earthquake off the volcano's coast shook parts of the state late Saturday, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported.

President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in the state Friday to allow federal resources to help state and local recovery efforts.

View of the #16 fissure that opened up today in lower Puna #Kilauea #Hawaii #Volcano pic.twitter.com/L9gzOqSHes
— Anthony Quintano (@AnthonyQuintano) May 13, 2018

Unbelievable.. Listen to the sound!

The earth is breathing.. Yesterday in Leilani Estates, Hawai’i.

Credits: Damian Barrios#hawaii #leilani #leilaniestates #lava #lavaflow @spann @TomHall #Kilauea #KilaueaEruption #volcano pic.twitter.com/CVoEf3VQDI
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 10, 2018

Photo credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images