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Photo from Ukrinform
A strong explosion in the crater of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii triggered an earthquake of 5.3 magnitude on Monday, June 25.
A second crater collapsed due to the earthquake.
According to the USGS, the epicenter of the earthquake lay at a depth of 800 meters. After an underground shaking in the crater, another less powerful volcano explosion occurred.
The volcano remains highly active, and it is currently not possible to predict when its activity will slow down. The latest phase of eruptive activity began on May 3. Molten magma, getting into the ocean, causes white acid clouds of smoke rising up to the sky above Hawaii.
Here are some videos published by an internet user who filmed the volcano activity:
⤴🎥#LavaBergs floating off coast of Hawaii
— the chunks of steaming rock seen above are the result of lava flowing from the #Kilauea volcano fissures into the sea. This video shows river, which is flowing at ~20mph.
⤵🎥..river’s end | #ahemVOLCANOS
pic.twitter.com/2byjfIpiyW— aHEMagain ❌ (@aHEM_again) June 26, 2018
⤴🎥River’s end: #Kilauea volcano
— in addition to the dangers of #LavaBergs, the lava hitting seawater creates a toxic gas plume called “laze”. Seawater steam laced w/hydrochloric acid & microscopic shards of volcanic glass.
⤵#ahemVOLCANOSpic.twitter.com/N9FiCxXpZE— aHEMagain ❌ (@aHEM_again) June 26, 2018
Most of the roads in the area have been blocked; schools are closed. Local residents have been warned about the rising levels of sulfur dioxide in the air.
Rescuers evacuated more than 1,700 residents.
Tourists have been warned to stay away from the volcano, which sits in the currently closed Volcanoes National Park. They are being threatened with fines for entering zones closed off to the public.
Kilauea is the most active volcano in Hawaii and one of the most active in the world. Its height is 1,247 meters above sea level, and the base of it reaches a few kilometers deep into the Pacific Ocean. The volcano has been active since 1983 and is causing considerable damage.
The county of Hawaii estimates that over 650 homes have been destroyed so far.
