PHOTOS: World's Largest Volcano Erupts in USA
As the world continues to make ever more sardonic jokes about the end of the planet and the bleak state of affairs that we continue to find ourselves in during this first quarter of the 21st century, we are now witnessing yet another apocalyptic twist to the tale.
The world’s largest active volcano is now erupting.
The world’s largest active volcano, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, has started to erupt for the first time in nearly four decades, prompting volcanic ash and debris to fall nearby, authorities said Monday.
Advertisement - story continues belowThe eruption began at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday in Moku‘āweoweo, the summit caldera of the Mauna Loa volcano, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
As of 2:43 a.m. local time, “the eruption continues at the summit of Mauna Loa,” according to the latest Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Status Report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “All vents remain restricted to the summit area,” the report said. “However, lava flows in the summit region are visible from Kona. There is currently no indication of any migration of the eruption into a rift zone.”
Local officials were busy keeping residents safe.
“The Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code for Mauna Loa remains at WARNING/RED,” the update added. “HVO is continuing to monitor conditions carefully and will issue additional notices as needed.”
Advertisement - story continues belowThe USGS warned that residents at risk from Mauna Loa lava flows should review their eruption preparations. Scientists had been on alert because of a recent spike in earthquakes at the summit of the volcano, which last erupted in 1984.
Portions of the Big Island were under an ashfall advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Honolulu, which said up to a quarter-inch of ash could accumulate in some areas.
Images of the eruption were soon flooding social media.
Mauna Loa erupting at sunrise is literally the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/YQdDfKHCMH
— Paul (@pfranci2) November 28, 2022
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, has erupted for the first time in nearly 4️⃣ decades, causing volcanic ash and debris to fall nearby, say authorities ⤵️
🔗: https://t.co/6YTasmzKuQ pic.twitter.com/MPR59Pum6U
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 28, 2022
Mauna Loa is erupting in Hawaii 🌴 pic.twitter.com/M6U5GybifD
— David Arch (@racerxHI) November 28, 2022
Mauna Loa eruption hawaii right now pic.twitter.com/uQz5OXwTg2
— kelly (@MAGAHAWAII) November 28, 2022
The eruption is ongoing at the time of this writing.
