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   Friday, 29 March 2024
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Hawaii volcano erupts; county issues evacuation orders

Nikki Hamal

In this photo provided by the US Geological Survey, red ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaiiu2019s Kilauea Volcano after a magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck the Big Island, on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photo: AP
In this photo provided by the US Geological Survey, red ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaiiu2019s Kilauea Volcano after a magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck the Big Island, on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photo: AP

Hawaii volcano erupts; county issues evacuation orders

HONOLULU: Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted Thursday, releasing red lava into a residential neighborhood and prompting mandatory evacuation orders for nearby homes.

Hawaii County said steam and lava poured out of a crack in Leilani Estates, which is near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island.

The eruption comes after days of earthquakes rattled the area’s Puna district.

Earlier in the week, the crater floor of the Puu Oo (POO’-oo OH’-oh) vent collapsed. That caused magma to push more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) downslope toward the populated southeast coastline of the island.

Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder said red lava emerged Thursday on Mohala Street. The county has ordered evacuations for homes from Luana Street to Pohohiki Road. Snyder didn’t know how many homes were covered by the evacuation order.

A nearby community center has opened for shelter.

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