World’s largest active volcano erupted in Hawaii
Satellite photograph of Mauna Kea
© AFP
The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa in the US state of Hawaii, has erupted for the first time in almost 40 years. Late on Sunday evening around 11:30 p.m. (local time; Monday 10:30 a.m. CET) lava began to emerge from the 4,169-meter-high volcano on Hawaii’s main island, according to the US Geology Agency USGS.
The lava emerged from the inside of the crater, but partly also flowed over the rim of the crater. The USGS said there has been no threat to communities in the region so far. A webcam from the agency showed long, glowing lava bands inside the crater.
The authorities closed the area around the volcano peak and several roads. An evacuation order for the population living in the region was not initially issued.
Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843, according to the USGS. The last eruption occurred in 1984 and lasted 22 days. Back then, lava flowed within seven kilometers of the city of Hilo, which is home to around 44,000 people.
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