After 38 years, the world’s largest active volcano on the island of Hawaii, which belongs to the United States, has become active again, which is why the American Geological Survey (USGS) has also issued a warning.
Mauna Loa erupted on Sunday night, covering the surrounding area with ash. According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the eruption does not pose a threat to those living at the foot of the volcano. At the same time, the organization drew attention to the fact that if the eruption continues, the lava flow may accelerate and reach the lower regions of the mountain. On the social page of the state’s tourism authority, it can also be read that the increased volcanic activity does not pose a threat to those staying on the slopes of the mountain, nor does it pose a threat to air traffic.
The US Weather Service’s office in Honolulu said: for now, they expect less than a centimeter of ash to cover some parts of the island. At the same time, people suffering from respiratory diseases were advised to stay indoors, and they drew attention to the fact that volcanic ash can damage vegetation, is dangerous for animals, and can also damage electronic equipment and vehicles.
There have been signs of the eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano in recent months: since June, the number of daily earthquakes in the area of the volcanic mountain has multiplied – at the end of September there were days when more than 100 earthquakes were registered – as a result of which the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency also issued a warning. According to geological records, the volcano has erupted 33 times since 1843, most recently in 1984. The 38-year hiatus that just ended was his longest silent period.
Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano in the world. Its crater tip is about 35 kilometers from a smaller volcano, Kilauea, which erupted in 2018 and destroyed 700 homes in the lava flow.
MTI
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