Hawaii Resident Injured After Being Hit By Lava Splatter
A Hawaii resident was hit by lava splatter from Kilauea while he stood on a third-floor balcony. It’s the first official known injury since the volcanic activity started.
According to Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim spokeswoman, the injured man is a resident who owns a home on Noni Farms Road. He had his leg shattered from his foot to his shin after he was hit by lava splatter. The spokeswoman said lava spatters can be heavy as a refrigerator, which means even tiny spatter pieces can kill a person.
Noni Farms Road, which is a residential road, sits in Pahoa’s Leilani Estates neighborhood – where most attention has been paid since Kilauea began its volcanic activity.
So far, more than 20 fissures have erupted in a southwest/northeast line, encompassing the majority of Lanipuna Gardens and Leilani Estates neighborhoods. The lava emanating from the vents have overcome most homes in the area.
On Saturday, a rapidly-moving lava stream overtook a four-mile section of Highway 137, between Pohoiki and Kamali Roads. This has cut off one of the residents’ primary escape routes.
According to officials, lava has reached the ocean and creating laze, which what happens when hot lava hits the ocean. It creates a plume of hydrochloric acid and steam as well as fine glass particles.
The county civil defense agency said the wind carries the laze plume, shifting directions at any time and without warning.
On Thursday, a large explosion rocked the area, sending a plume of ash 30,000 feet into the air. On Friday, multiple fissures sent fresh lava out of the summit, overtaking 40 structures. The lava has cut off access to 40 other area homes. National Guard and county helicopters had to airlift four people from the area.
U.S. Geological Survey geologist Janet Babb, fresh, hot magma could cause lava flows to move quicker and cover a larger area.
Ikaika Marzo, an area resident, said the lava sounds like 20 jets taking off all at one time. He said the sounds shake the entire community.
Before the magma blew into the air, dangerous sulfur dioxide gases and hot steam rose from the vents.
Thousands of Hawaii’s residents have been evacuated since the activity started.
Online News Heard Now
Short URL: http://www.onlinenewsheardnow.com/?p=4366
Posted by