Hawaii is still enduring the devastating effects of the erupting Kilauea Volcano on its Big Island. The most recent updates from authorities warn that lava continues to flow into the sea as "vog" moves southwest around the south of Island of Hawaii.
Vents at Fissure 8 continue to erupt, sending lava fountains as high as 160 feet, the United States Geological Survey reported late Monday night. Fissure 8 is near the Leilani Estates area of the Island of Hawaii. The fissure's plumes of lava are feeding a fast-moving channel that is flooding into the sea at Kapoho Bay—an area that was recently an oceanside resort.
Read more: Hawaii Kilauea Volcano: Vog, new evacuations, vents
The USGS warns against trying to explore the dangerous ocean entry points because the potentially explosive meeting of lava and water can send debris flying. New land created by the active ocean entries is loose, unstable and corrosive, the agency reported.
The Civil Defense Agency's Monday-evening update warns that a large plume of acid rain and air pollution—also known as "laze"—is rising from the ocean entry points. Laze, the USGS reported, is corrosive to the eyes, skin and lungs. According to Monday afternoon's USGS map, below, the lava flow has spread further into the sea.
Fissure 8 is also spewing volcanic glass and gas. Particulate emissions from Kilauea, the USGS warned, can cause skin and eye irritations. Wind, the agency reported, is set to carry "vog"—a dangerous mix of water, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide—around the south and west of the island.
The Civil Defense Agency warns Hawaii residents with breathing problems to limit exposure to the volcano's noxious emissions. Locals can check local vog levels on the University of Hawai'i at Manoa's Vog Measurement and Prediction Project website. Residents can attend a community meeting Thursday to learn more about volcanic ash and vog, the Civil Defense Agency reported.
Lava is also spattering from Fissures 16 and 18, which are located roughly halfway between Leilani Estates and Pohoiki.
Seismic activity increased at the Kilauea Volcano summit following a small explosion Monday morning, the USGS reported. Seismicity at the lower East Rift Zone—the area pictured in the USGS map—however, is relatively low.
On a lighter note, the USGS shared a picture of papaya on a Kapoho tree, fried by a Kilauea eruption back in 1960, on Twitter Tuesday.
