Loading ...The lava lake at the summit, which was full to overflowing last week, has drained 970 ft. down the hole. Take a moment to envision a hole like a rifle barrel almost 1,000ft deep, with a lava lake at the bottom. This is such a dangerous condition that they have closed the National Park to visitors now. This morning a rockfall down the chimney resulted in an ash plume explosion hundreds of feet into the air. In 1924 an even larger explosion resulted when groundwater suddenly poured into a receded lava shaft and blew out the crater, throwing tonnage of rocks thousands of feet into the air. So the summit area is unstable and dangerous.
Fissure 15 opened on the east end and crossed Pohoiki road. On the west end, across Hwy 130, an area of steaming vents has opened up. Hwy 130 is closed where it crosses the rift line, with shifting 8-inch cracks across the road. This was the major highway into lower Puna. Hwy 132 at Kapoho is still usable but endangered. Government beach road is a jeep trail around the eastern Cape Kumukahi is the last line of evacuation of the southern shoreline area.
Sulfur Dioxide + water = Acid rain. Major concern now as Goldi noticed, with most homes on catchment water systems. I selected a subdivision that has our own private water system from a 400 ft well in the Mauna Loa aquifer, so I have good piped water to the house. I also have a water filter or three for emergency use. I’ve also ordered sulfur dioxide filter breathing masks just in case the plumes waft this way.
The earthquake swarms have lessened in frequency, but are still quite active.