HONOLULU | Mon Mar 7, 2011 6:51am EST
HONOLULU (Reuters) – Scientists on Sunday were closely monitoring heightened activity at Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, after a fissure sent lava spewing 65 feet (20 metres) in the air.
No homes were threatened and no campers were injured, said park rangers, but they cautioned visitors to still keep their distance from the volcano.
Kilauea has been in constant eruption for 28 years. But geologist Janet Babb of the U.S. Geological Survey said this weekend’s activity indicates “new episodes in eruptions and further unknowns.”
On Saturday, one of the volcano’s crater floors, named Pu’u ‘O’o, collapsed 370 feet (113 metres), the USGS said. The event was accompanied by 150 small earthquakes, all confined to the volcanic area.
Separately, on the volcano’s eastern side, a 1605-foot (490-metre)-long fissure in the ground opened, spewing lava 65 feet (20 metres) in the air, the USGS said. Also, another crater called Napau began erupting.
Authorities closed a trail on the east rift zone, the campsite at Napau Crater and nearby roads, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Park Ranger Mardie Lane said.
Visitors can see the eruptions from about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away and remain safe, she said.
(Reporting by Jorene Barut: Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Eric Walsh)
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Tags: another-crater, editing, eruptions, hawaiian, jorene-barut, napau-crater, survey, usgs