Hawaii Worst. Case. Scenario. Erupting Volcano & Earthquakes = Experts see No End in Sight

Activity is increasing & scientists and Experts say the lava, smoke, gas & ash could last for months. First Puerto Rico & now Hawaii. NOW is the time for Americans & people of the world to begin to work together as one Earth family. These are the biggest challenges of our Age. No Fear. Step Your Game Up.
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https://weather.com/news/news/2018-05-02-hawaii-kilauea-volcano-activity

Big Island's Kilauea Volcano's Continues Intermittent Lava Eruptions Following 6.9 Quake; 9 Homes Destroyed

Nine homes have been destroyed by lava in a residential neighborhood on Hawaii's Big Island.
A major 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck early Friday afternoon.
Hundreds of residents in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens were ordered to evacuate and remained so on Saturday.
More than 500 earthquakes have shaken the Big Island since mid-day Friday.
Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island continues its intermittent lava eruptions following Friday's 6.9-magnitude earthquake.

Two new fissures opened up late Saturday bringing the total number of fissures to 10, each measuring hundreds of yards in length. The fissures have been spewing lava into Leilani Estates, along with dangerous gasses, the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency said in its Sunday update. Nine home has been destroyed.

Evacuations remained in place for over 1,700 people residing in Leilani Estates and neighboring Lanipuna Gardens, according to the Associated Press. Residents have also been warned about dangerous levels of sulfuric gas.

"Everything is still elevated," Talmadge Magno, administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense agency, told Hawaii News Now. "It kind of gets you nervous."

Leilani Estates residents with property between Highway 130 and Maile Street will be permitted to enter the subdivision Sunday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time to complete evacuation of pets, medicine, and vital documents left behind.

Friday's magnitude 6.9 earthquake was the largest quake to hit the state since 1975 and the third large earthquake to rattle the eastern end of the Big Island since Thursday. In the past two days, about 152 magnitude 2 and magnitude 3 earthquakes occurred at depths less than 3 miles beneath the summit area. The U.S. Geological Survey also reported 22 magnitude 3 earthquakes were recorded.

Overall, more than 500 earthquakes have shaken the Big Island since mid-day Friday.

The quake triggered several landslides along the Hamakua Coast and small tsunami waves around the island. Sea fluctuations ranged from 8 inches in Hilo to 16 inches at Kapoho, the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency told Hawaii News Now.

"It did generate a very small tsunami around the coast of the Big Island, and we're even seeing very small sea level fluctuations, less than a foot in amplitude," Dr. Charles McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, told Hawaii News Now. "But it's enough to let us know that the earthquake did cause the ocean to move and it did generate a small tsunami."

Scientists say the magma lake at the crater of the volcano has dropped significantly, indicating that it likely has moved towards Puna District, home to about 10,000 residents, papaya farms and forests. It's also the area where at least six fissures have opened up since Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaii Volcano Observatory.

Janet Babb, a spokesperson for the observatory, said the earthquakes are the result of the volcano adjusting to the moving magma.

"The magma moving down the rift zones, it causes stress on the south flank of the volcano," Babb said. "We're just getting a series of earthquakes."

Along with mandatory evacuations, water restrictions were ordered Friday for Leilani Estates, Nānāwale Estates, Kapoho and Lanipuna Gardens, the Hawaii Civil Defense agency reported.

The Hawaii Civil Defense Agency cautioned residents that refused to evacuate that "first responders may not be able to come to the aid of residents who refuse to evacuate."

The volcanic activity forced officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to evacuate all visitors and non-emergency staff after rock slides were reported on path trails and crater walls.

Lava flows on Friday destroyed two homes at Kaupili Street and Leilani Avenue, located in the evacuation zone, Hawaii News Now reported.

Late Thursday, Gov. David Ige declared a state of emergency so state funding can be used in the response.

Authorities say new lava outbreaks remain a possibility.

"The opening phases of fissure eruptions are dynamic and uncertain. It is not possible at this time to say when and where new vents may occur," the observatory said. "Areas downslope of an erupting fissure or vent are at risk of lava inundation. At this time, the general area of the Leilani subdivision appears at greatest risk."