Mauna Loa has spewed lava up to 200 feet in the sky, as its first eruption in nearly 40 years continues.
The Hawaiian volcano, which at 13,000 feet above sea level is the biggest on Earth, began erupting on November 27 at approximately 11:30 p.m. after months of unrest.
A "massive glow" emanating from the volcano's crater could be seen at sunrise on November 28, the Volcanoes National Park said in a Facebook update.
The eruption is currently focused towards the Northeast Rift Zone and is not threatening any nearby communities, according to an update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) issued on November 28, 2022, at 4:55 p.m. local time.
Three of the volcano's upper fissures have erupted, with the tallest lava fountain reaching an estimated 200 feet.
Lava has started to flow downslope, but it stalled 11 miles away, at 10,000 feet elevation, from Saddle Road, also known as Route 200—a road that traverses the width of the Island.
While the HVO does not expect the upper fissures to reactivate, it is possible that additional vents could open farther down the Northeast Rift Zone. There are several communities that lie towards the volcanoes Northeast Rift Zone, including Hilo and Kona.
There is currently no lava towards the Southwest Rift Zone and no property is currently at risk.
Mauna Loa has not erupted since 1984. During this eruption, nobody was hurt but lava flow blocked roads and caused damage to power lines.
James Hickey, senior lecturer in Geophysics & Volcanology at the U.K.'s University of Exeter, told Newsweek: "One of the reasons it's notable is that this volcano hasn't erupted since 1984, but has in the past been more frequent than that. In past eruptions of Mauna Loa, the town of Hilo has been threatened by lava flows multiple times, but has avoided damage each time, sometimes narrowly."
Hickey said what happens next is "anyone's guess."
The eruption has drawn the attention of volcano watchers far and wide. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is expecting an influx of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of a rare, dual eruption from Mauna Loa and Kīlauea, the National Park said in a Facebook update.
Kīlauea is another volcano located on the southeastern shore of the Island. It has been erupting since September 29, 2021, but lava is confined to the summit lava lake. The picture just above shows Mauna Loa glowing along with a small lava lake at Kīlauea's summit.
Rajeev Nair, earth science professor at the University of Calgary, told Newsweek that as the eruption "has indeed" migrated to the Northeast Rift Zone, it's a "dynamic situation."
"Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is keeping close watch on Mauna Loa in tandem with our colleagues at USGS and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense," Hawaii Volcanoes National Park superintendent Rhonda Loh said in a statement. "The park is currently open, but visitors should be prepared and stay informed."
Correction 11/29/22 11:19 a.m. ET: The distance from Kailua Bay to Mauna Loa caldera has been corrected.
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Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more
