LIVE Mauna Loa alert reduced to 'watch' as lava eases

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
·2 min read

Dec. 11—UPDATE: Saturday, 3 p.m.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reduced the Mauna Loa volcano alert level from "warning" to "watch" this afternoon, and scientists said Fissure 3 continues to erupt "with greatly reduced output of lava and gas emissions."

A volcanic alert watch means an eruption is underway but with limited hazards, officials said. The aviation alert code remains at "orange, reflecting the uncertainty of continuing eruptive activity and the possibility of volcanic ash emissions," they said.

"High eruption rates will not resume based on past eruptive behavior and current behavior suggests that the eruption may end soon," HVO scientists said. "However, an inflationary trend of Mauna Loa's summit is accompanying the decreased activity and there is a small possibility that the eruption could continue at very low eruptive rates."

Short outbreaks of lava continue above the 10,000 foot elevation and are no risk to any communities, they said. Daniel K. Inouye Highway remains open and is no longer threatened by a lava flow.

But officials said the reduced lava activity is resulting in a "minimal to no red lava viewing."

Still, areas adjacent to Daniel K. Inouye Highway, Old Saddle Road, and near the lava flow remain closed to the public.

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Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption continues today but with a significant reduction of lava and volcanic gas emissions, scientists said.

"At 7 a.m., a lava pond replaced the fountains at the Fissure 3 vent. The pond fed short lava flows that extended only 1.6 miles from the vent but are already stagnating," the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in its 9:12 a.m. update.

HVO scientists said the main flow that earlier this week was threatening Daniel K. Inouye Highway remains stalled 1.9 miles from the roadway. The active vent today is further up the mountain and is no threat to the highway, also known as Saddle Road, or any communities, they said.

"The significance of the reduced lava flow is not yet clear," HVO said, noting that eruptions commonly "wax and wane or pause completely."

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>> RELATED: Lava output from Mauna Loa eruption continues to weaken

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