Asian Reporter web extra, November 30, 2022

A man photographs the glow from lava erupting from Hawai‘i’s Mauna
Loa volcano on November 28, 2022 in Hilo, Hawai‘i. (AP Photo/Caleb
Jones)

In this aerial photo released by the U.S. Geological Survey, the
Mauna Loa volcano is seen erupting from vents on the Northeast Rift Zone
on the Big Island of Hawai‘i on Monday, November 28, 2022. Hawai‘i’s
Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, began spewing ash and
debris from its summit, prompting civil defense officials to warn
residents to prepare in case the eruption causes lava to flow toward
communities. (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

This photo provided by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcanoes shows
the eruption within Kilauea volcano’s Halemaumau crater at the volcano’s
summit, in this September 29, 2021 file photo. Mauna Loa volcano last
erupted in 1984. The current eruption is its 34th since written
record-keeping began in 1843. Its smaller neighbor, Kilauea, has been
erupting since September 2021, so visitors to the national park this
week were treated to the rare sight of two simultaneous eruptive events:
the glow from Kilauea’s lava lake and lava from a Mauna Loa fissure.
(U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
Viewers flock to watch glowing lava ooze from
Hawai‘i volcano
By Caleb Jones, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, and Andrew Selsky
The Associated Press
November 30, 2022
KAILUA-KONA, Hawai‘i (AP) — The world’s largest volcano oozed rivers
of glowing lava Wednesday, drawing thousands of awestruck viewers who
jammed a Hawai‘i highway that could soon be covered by the flow.
Mauna Loa awoke from its 38-year slumber Sunday, causing volcanic ash
and debris to drift down from the sky. A main highway linking towns on
the east and west coasts of the Big Island became an impromptu viewing
point, with thousands of cars jamming the highway near Volcanoes
National Park.
Anne Andersen left her overnight shift as a nurse to see the
spectacle, afraid that the road would soon be closed.
"It’s Mother Nature showing us her face," she said, as the volcano
belched gas on the horizon. "It’s pretty exciting."
Gordon Brown, a visitor from Loomis, California, could see the bright
orange lava from the bedroom of his rental house. So he headed out for a
close-up view with his wife.
"We just wanted … to come see this as close as we could get. And it
is so bright, it just blows my mind," Brown said.
The lava was tumbling slowly down the slope and was about 6 miles
from the highway known as Saddle Road. It was not clear when, or if, it
would cover the road, which runs through old lava flows.
The road bisects the island and connects the cities of Hilo and
Kailua-Kona. People travelling between them would need to take a longer
coastal road if Saddle Road becomes impassable, adding several hours of
drive time.
Ken Hon, scientist in charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory,
said at current flow rate, the soonest the lava would get to the road is
two days, but it will likely take longer.
"As the lava flow spreads out, it will probably interfere with its
own progress," Hon said.
Kathryn Tarananda, 66, of Waimea set two alarms to make sure she
didn’t oversleep and miss her chance to see sunrise against the backdrop
of eruptions at Mauna Loa.
"It’s a thrill," she said. "We’re out in the middle of raw nature.
It’s awe inspiring that we live in this place. ... I feel really, really
fortunate to be an islander."
Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984. The current eruption is its 34th
since written record-keeping began in 1843. Its smaller neighbor,
Kilauea, has been erupting since September 2021, so visitors to the
national park were treated to the rare sight of two simultaneous
eruptive events: the glow from Kilauea’s lava lake and lava from a Mauna
Loa fissure.
Abel Brown, a visitor from Las Vegas, was impressed by the natural
forces on display. He planned to take a close-up helicopter tour later
in the day — but not too close.
"There’s a lot of fear and trepidation if you get really close to
it," Brown said. "The closer you get, the more powerful it is and the
more scary it is."
Officials were initially concerned that lava flowing down Mauna Loa
would head toward the community of South Kona, but scientists later
assured the public the eruption had migrated to a rift zone on the
volcano’s northeast flank and wasn’t threatening communities.
The smell of volcanic gasses and sulfur was thick along Saddle Road,
where people watched the wide stream of lava creep closer.
Governor David Ige issued an emergency proclamation to allow
responders to arrive quickly or limit access as needed.
Ige, who has dealt with multiple volcanic eruptions during his eight
years as governor, said it’s impossible to redirect Mauna Loa’s molten
rock as it heads for the highway.
"There is no physical way or technological way to change the course
of where the lava flows," Ige told a news conference. He remembers
wishing that could be done in 2018, when Kilauea sent lava pouring
across homes, farms, and roads.
"But as we saw in that event, the power of Mother Nature and Madam
Pele overwhelms anything that we can do," Ige said, referring to the
Hawaiian deity of volcanoes and fire.
Ige said that if lava does cross the highway, the Hawaii National
Guard could help plan for alternatives and try to set up bypass routes.
Lava crossed the Mauna Loa Observatory access road Monday night and
cut off power to the facility, Hon said. It’s the world’s premier
station that measures heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The federal government is looking for a temporary alternate site on the
Hawaiian island and is contemplating flying a generator to the
observatory to get its power back so it can take measurements again.
Meanwhile, scientists are trying to measure the gas emitted from the
eruption.
Kelleher reported from Honolulu. Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon.
Associated Press reporters Jennifer Sinco Kelleher and Audrey McAvoy in
Honolulu and Greg Bull and Haven Daley in Hilo contributed to this
report.
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