Hawaii’s Big Island on alert as eruption fears grow

THE HOLIDAY paradise is on alert as earthquakes rock the mighty Kilauea volcano, prompting calls for residents and tourists to stay away.

HAWAII’S Big Island is on alert for an eruption of the mighty Kilauea volcano after dozens of earthquakes rocked the site.

About 50 earthquakes were recorded on Wednesday morning alone the US Geological Survey’s (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.

Kilauea volcano sits to the southwest of the Hawaiian island in an national park that’s a popular spot for hikers and tourists.

Kīlauea is located on the island of Hawaii, also known as the "Big Island". Picture: Google Maps

But tourists, private tour companies and residents are now being urged to stay away as scientists warn the spike in activity at the volcano could trigger an eruption.

Lava has moved down the east slope of the volcano and into Puna District of the Big Island, Associated Press reported.

“Residents should heed all advice offered by Civil Defence and take the actions recommended by Civil Defence to prepare for a possible eruption,” USGS geologist Janet Babb said.

A small lava flow (lighter in colour) and spatter erupting from a section of the crack on the west flank of the Puu Oo vent of Kilauea volcano, on May 1. Picture: US Geological Survey via AP

“An eruption is possible because magma is clearly moving through the East Rift Zone and it could come to the surface.

“The possibility is definitely there, I can’t give you a probability.”

But she said if an eruption happened, the start of it would be “pretty vigorous”.

The magma has already started to flow below Highway 130, a major road on Hawaii island that leads to a popular access point to the volcano.

Spatter along a lava lake on April 22. Picture: US Geological Survey via AP

The Big Island mayor’s office released a statement saying various levels of government were preparing for a possible eruption.

“The preparations include the identification of shelters, mobilisation of police and other security personnel to ensure residents’ safety, and road crews to ensure access to evacuation routes,” the mayor’s statement said.

This April 23, 2018 image shows the extent of the large overflow of a lava lake in the volcano. Picture: US Geological Survey via AP

“Should an eruption occur, residents along the East Rift Zone may have little warning,” Civil Defence Administrator Talmadge Magno said.

“Residents in that area should be prepared to evacuate.”

Most eruptions at Kilauea have not been explosive, however in 1924 an eruption sent ash and nine-tonne rocks into the sky. One person was killed in that eruption.

Kilauea’s summit lava lake overflows onto Halemaumau Crater on April 24. Picture: M Patrick/US Geological Survey via AP

Another eruption in 1983 saw lava spewing more than 450 metres into the air.

In 2008, an eruption damaged a viewing site for visitors.

Last week, the lava lake at the volcano’s summit rose and spilt over the crater edge, marking the largest lava inflation since Kilauea erupted in 2008, according to Associated Press.