Kona residents evacuate as Hawaii Mauna Loa volcano erupts

Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, is erupting, for the first time since 1984.

Mauna Loa volcano, that rises 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above the Pacific Ocean and occupies over a half of the Big Island in Hawaii, has erupted 33 times since 1843, according to the USGS.

Last eruption happened 38 years ago, in March and April of 1984, sending a flow of lava within 5 miles of the city of Hilo.

According to the US Geological Service’s (USGS), Moana Loa eruption has begun on Sunday night, at 11:30pm in Mokuaweoweo, the summit caldera, with “lava flows contained within the summit area and are not threatening downslope communities,” at the time of the eruption.

The USGS upgraded the volcano alert level from an “advisory” to a “warning” later on, warning that the early eruption phases of Moana Loa can be “very dynamic” and the location and advance of lava flows “can change rapidly.”

The USGS also reported that more than a dozen earthquakes of over 2.5 magnitude rocked the area in the last two hours, with one measuring 4.2 in magnitude.

No evacuations have been ordered by the local authorities, but Hawaii County announced that emergency shelters have been opened in Ka’u and in Kailua-Kona after the residents of the South Kona coast have reportedly started self-evacuation.

An ashfall advisory was issued for Hawaii’s Big Island and surrounding waters for the morning hours, for up to a quarter inch of ash accumulating on portions of the islands. 

The National Weather Service in Honolulu warned of “possible harm to crops and animals. Minor equipment and infrastructure damage. Reduced visibility. Widespread clean-up may be necessary.”