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Video by Mick Kalber, USGS / audio from USGS conference call at 11 a.m.

VIDEO: Thursday Eruption Conference Call With USGS, NWS
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by Big Island Video News
on May 24, 2018 at 3:33 pm

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STORY SUMMARY

HAWAII ISLAND - Scientists talk about how lava is once again on the move in Leilani Estates, as fissure 7 reactivated and began erupting pahoehoe.

(BIVN) – Lower East Rift Zone fissure activity continues to migrate westward, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says.

“In addition to copious lava production from fissures near Pohoiki Rd,” scientists updated just after 3 p.m., “fissure 7 is erupting pāhoehoe lava flows spreading to the east, south & north filling in low-lying topography within eastern edge of Leilani Estates.”

Two main channels of lava are also moving to the south and producing 3 ocean entries.

The USGS joined the National Weather Service and others for a media conference call at 11 a.m. on Thursday, where they went over the latest volcanic activity observations.

Videographer Mick Kalber also returned from a Paradie Helicopter overflight, and provided this summary to go with the video he recorded:

Numerous fissures continue to spew lava, some fountaining, others oozing. Five fissures have opened up atop the May 6th Luana and Makamae flow just below. Those fissures appear to be spreading lava in both directions… across Leilani to the north, and toward Malama to the south, and downslope, of course. Huge cracks have appeared half way up the subdivision, particularly on the Malama side of Pomaikai. Over the past several days, Pele has ventured uprift… the question is how far up will she go? Also of note are fissures 5 and 6 at the bottom of Leilani. They have gone from oozing to fountaining, destroyed several structures at the old state Geothermal test site and are now creating a “perched pond,” a sizable raised lava lake between the fissures. Meanwhile Fissure 22, the largest of them all recently has begun to slow down a bit. The recent activity near the PGV Geothermal plant has not moved much closer to the facility… the breakouts nearby have been pouring a huge volume of lava downslope and ponding. Both a’a and pahoehoe flows continue to pour over the sea cliffs in great volume just southwest of Pohoiki. Numerous fingers of lava have stretched toward the sea over the past several days, covering many properties… destroying some homes, and sliding by others. Dozens of homes have been destroyed since the eruption began nearly three weeks ago. Although it began in Leilani and burned several homes there, she soon established her vents below the subdivision with towering fountains, spatter cones feeding gigantic lava flows. So far, no deaths have been reported. Pohoiki Road and Highway 137 have both been covered with lava, but Highway 132 is still open as of this writing.


Filed Under: Video Report Tagged With: Kilauea, lava

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