— Residents of Hawaii’s Big Island were on high alert Saturday after the Kilauea volcano gushed more lava on the island’s eastern side, forcing hundreds to evacuate.
Sputtering lava, molten rock and toxic gas continued to plague area neighborhoods following Friday’s magnitude-6.9 earthquake, the island’s largest tremor in more than 40 years. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 12:32 p.m. local time (22:32 GMT) near the southern part of the volcano.
Another 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit the island earlier Friday and authorities said they expect more seismic activity.
Drone and other video footage showed orange magma gushing up from cracks in the ground and snaking through a wooded area.
The eruption that began Thursday has already forced nearly 1,500 people to flee from their mountainside homes. Officials said at least 100 people were staying in shelters Friday, with most evacuees staying with family and friends.
There have been no reports of deaths or injuries. Officials warned Friday that they have detected high levels of sulfur gas in the air that could threaten the elderly and people with breathing problems.
VIDEO: Flames, smoke & lava trail from #Hawaii volcano eruption
Sputtering lava, strong earthquakes & toxic gas jolted the southern part of the Big Island of Hawaii as magma shifted underneath a #Kilauea volcano.
The natural threats forced residents to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/htHWTnfAws— The Voice of America (@VOANews) May 5, 2018
County, state and federal officials had been warning residents all week that they should be prepared to evacuate, as an eruption could be imminent.
Governor David Ige activated Hawaii’s National Guard troops and urged residents to heed official warnings. Ige also signed an emergency order releasing disaster funds to the Big Island.
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, who represents Hawaii, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was mobilizing resources and monitoring for fire outbreaks, water shortages and power outages.
The Kilauea volcano has been erupting periodically for more than three decades. Lava flows from the volcano, one of five on the island, have buried an area about 125 km square, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Scientists say they cannot predict how long the current eruption will last. | voanews
