Hawaii volcano eruption update LIVE: Leilani Estates EVACUATED as Hawaii on USGS alert
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Loading... - Carmina Santos
- 04 May 2021
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More than 250 earthquakes were recorded in recent days, including a magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Puna district, which shook the coast on Tuesday morning.
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 a national park that’s a popular spot for hikers and tourists.
The Pu’u’ ‘O’o crater floor on the volcano’s East Rift Zone triggered an increase in earthquake activity and it could signal an impending lava flow outbreak.
Officials said the earthquakes were caused by a collapse of the crater floor on Monday afternoon.
9.34am update: Residents say they were forced to flee within just minutes after the evacuation order was issued
Residents told Hawaii News Now they were forced to grab what they could in the minutes they had to leave. One resident said he grabbed his father's ashes as he ran out the door.
"My family is safe, the rest of the stuff can be replaced," another resident said. "When I bought here 14 years, I knew that this day would eventually come. But the reality is sinking in now."
He added that he was "100 percent sure" that there are going to be structures destroyed by morning.
9.17am update: Hawaii's Civil Defense warns of high levels of sulphur dioxide in the air
The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency tweeted: "Fire Dept detects extremely high levels of dangerous Sulfur Dioxide gas in evac area. Mandatory evacuation Leilani Estates/Lanipuna Gardens."
9.12am update: 10,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes in Hawaii after Kilauea volcano released lava into residential areas
Residents of Leilani Estates, home to about 1,700 people, were ordered to evacuate after public works officials reported steam and lava emissions from a crack at about 4:30 pm local time.
But there are some 10,000 people living in the Puna community - all of which have been ordered to evacuate the region.
