Hawaii volcano eruption map: Where is Kilauea volcano on Big Island?
HUNDREDS of people have been forced to evacuate their homes after the Kilauea volcano began erupting on Hawaii’s Big Island on Friday, but where is the volcano situated?
Lava rips through Leilani Estates after Kilauea volcano eruption
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) issued a notice: “The eruption in the Leilani Estates subdivision in the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano that began in late afternoon of May 3rd ended by about 6.30pm HST.
“Lava spatter and gas bursts erupted from the fissure for about two hours, and lava spread a short distance from the fissure, less than about 10m (33ft).
Governor David Ige activated the Hawaii National Guard to provide emergency help.
He issued a warning to residents living near the volcano: “Please be alert and prepare now to keep your family safe.”
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No injuries or deaths have been reported yet.
Hawaii defence officials said on Friday the volcano is still erupting and driving up sulfur dioxide gas to extremely high levels.
Images from social media and drone footage showed cracks opening up across roads and molten rock bursting out in the lower East Rift Zone of the Kilauea volcano.
Officials opened two community centres to shelter people who fled their homes.
Resident Ikaika Marzo told the Honolulu Star Advertiser lava fountains were shooting 150 feet in the air and molten lava was spreading out over an area about 200 yards wide behind one house in Leilani Estates.
Where is Kilauea volcano on Big Island?
Kilauea volcano is a shield volcano located in a crater 3,646 ft (1, 111m deep).
Kilauea can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii on the southeastern slope of Mauna Loa in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
More than 2.6 million people enjoy walking, hiking and visiting the major tourist attraction every year.
Big Island sits in the southeastern most part of the island chain, in the Pacific Ocean.
It is one of the largest active craters in the world and has a circumference of 8 miles (13km) and is surrounded by a wall of volcanic rock 200ft to 500ft high.
The volcano is the youngest in Hawaii and there have been 34 eruptions since 1952 and 61 eruptions in total.
The Kilauea volcano has been erupting continuously for more than three decades and is one of five active volcanoes in Hawaii, others are Loihi, Mauna Loa, Hualalai and Haleakala.
Kilauea’s summit sits just north of Big Island’s southeastern coast.
