The lava flows of the volcano, in “eruptive break” for almost forty years, do not currently threaten the inhabitants of the American island.
mo12345lemonde with AFP
The biggest active volcano in the world, the Mauna Loa, located in Hawaii, erupted Sunday November 27 for the first time in almost forty years: spectacular, its fury does not threaten the dwellings for the moment, But authorities and experts call for caution.
The eruption, which started on Sunday at 11:30 p.m. locals – on Monday 10:30 am (Paris time) – according to the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS), carrie of torrents of fusion rocks on the upper part of the volcano. It also causes thick clouds of smoke at altitude above the American island of Hawaii, the largest of this Pacific archipelago. The scrolls are thus visible more than 70 kilometers around, according to the USGS. “The eruption of Mauna Loa has migrated from the top to the northeast crevasse area, where cracks feed several lava flows”, explained the institute on its website .
No evacuation was ordered by the authorities, but the area close to the summit and certain roads of the island are closed as a precaution. There is currently no risks for dwellings located under the eruption area, according to the Institute, which however warns against the volatility of this volcano, the widest in the world – it covers half From the island of Hawaii and its area exceeds that of all the other islands in the archipelago. “The first phases of an eruption of Mauna Loa can evolve quickly and the location and advancement of lava flows can change quickly,” warned the USGS.
of potentially heavy consequences for the Health
The winds could also Charrier “volcanic gas and pelled hair”, volcanic glass fibers punching their name from the Hawaiian goddess of fire, which form when lava droplets stretch in fine filaments under the ‘Effect of gusts. Shaped like razor blades, they are dangerous for the skin and eyes.
The American National Meteorological Service (NWS) warned that volcanic ashes and debris could accumulate around the volcano. This can cause respiratory discomfort in residents or disturb the operation of engines or electronic systems.
The Mauna Loa (“long mountain” in Hawaiian) had not erupted since 1984. He then vomited lava for twenty-two days, producing lava flows which failed only 7 kilometers from The city of Hilo, located northeast of the volcano.
“The fact that it is a dangerous mountain that has not erupted since 1984 – the longest eruptive break in its history – is the reason why we should all have an eye on it” , a commented on Twitter the volcanologist Robin George Andrews . According to him, the lava flows which escape by the newly formed crevices on the northeast flank of the volcano represent “a new dangerous dimension [of] the eruption”. But unless there is a spectacular increase in their flow, the city of Hilo and its 44,000 inhabitants should be preserved.
The Mauna Loa culminates at 4,169 meters and is one of the six active volcanoes of the Hawaii archipelago. It has erupted thirty -three times since 1843. The main island of the archipelago also houses a slightly higher volcano by its size, the Mauna Kea – 4,207 meters. Just south-east of Mauna Loa, the Kilauea volcano is experiencing a very sustained activity, with almost uninterrupted eruptions between 1983 and 2019. Its latest, minor, has been in progress for several months.