Volcanic Lava in Hawaii Overflowed into Residential Areas

Following the eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, which caused molten lava to flow across the region and hazardous gases to reach residential areas, a mandatory evacuation order was implemented on Friday for some areas of the island. According to AFP, the eruption of lava occurred at 4:45 PM local time on Thursday (2:45 AM GMT on Friday). Approximately 1,700 residents of Leilani Estates, one of the areas on the Big Island of Hawaii, were forced to evacuate. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that 'white hot steam and blue smoke erupted from one of the volcanic fissures in the area and spread across the region.' Although the U.S. Geological Survey stated that the eruption had ceased around 6:30 PM local time, it warned that further volcanic activity and lava eruptions could continue. The Hawaii Civil Defense Agency urged residents of the evacuated areas to stay away, and the fire department detected the release of 'very dangerous sulfur dioxide gas in the area.' The volcano became active after several small earthquakes and the collapse of part of its crater floor. The Governor of Hawaii issued an emergency order to allocate funds for relief efforts for the affected people. Images captured by local media show streams of molten lava moving through the forests surrounding the Kilauea volcano. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency stated that public buildings have been prepared to accommodate residents who have left their homes due to this incident. The residential areas around this volcano have a population of about 10,000. The Governor of Hawaii has also activated the National Guard and urged people to follow the recommendations and warnings of responsible agencies. Janet Babb, a geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, told AFP that 'scientists had detected the movement of a magma mass in the underlying layers of the volcano's crater since Monday and suspected that this volcano would erupt.' She added that although the fissures where the lava erupted are now closed, 'overall volcanic activity has not ended, and there is still cause for concern.' The island of Hawaii, known as the Big Island, is the largest of the eight main islands that make up this U.S. state in the Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian archipelago also includes hundreds of small volcanic islands.