Mauna Loa eruption continues, now threatens main Hawaii Island freeway

Lava erupting from Fissure 3 on Mauna Loa — Fissure Three producing a lava fountain on November 30, 2022. Picture by USGS

The present Mauna Loa eruption continues to dominate Hawaii information and wow onlookers with its dramatic lava shows. For an instance, take a look at the sights and sounds of the next video captured by the Hawaii Division of Land and Pure Sources.

Mauna Loa Eruption-Leading Edge, 11-29-22 from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo.

One of these lava is an a’a flow, which is fast paced. An a’a movement creates jagged-lava rocks.

Although lava has been transferring rapidly, partially because of the slope and gravity, it’s starting to sluggish because it reaches flatter floor. As this occurs, specialists anticipate the lava movement will unfold out and inflate.

Lava has traveled down a number of thousand toes from Mauna Loa summit and is at the moment headed in a route that places a serious freeway in peril. In our previous update, the movement was greater than 10 miles away from any main street. Now, it’s lower than 3.5 miles away from Daniel Ok. Inouye Freeway! Consultants estimate that lava may probably block the street in as little as two days. In fact, nobody is aware of for positive what the volcano will do.

This street that’s in peril of being blocked by lava is Daniel Ok. Inouye Freeway. That’s the official title of Freeway 200, however most folk generally confer with it as Saddle Street. You may also hear it referred to as DKI Freeway. It’s essentially the most direct connection from Hilo to Kona. Consultants estimate that almost 6,000 automobiles use this street each day, principally by native residents. (See this KHON2 segment for hypothesis on how a Saddle Street closure may have an effect on the island’s site visitors.)

Although the lava movement would possibly find yourself crossing Saddle Street, fortunately, the eruption will not be at the moment transferring within the route of any inhabited areas. Additionally, from a traveler’s perspective, it’s price noting that lava is not transferring in direction of any resort areas.

In case you are visiting the island and want to observe the lava movement, take a look at this KHON2 phase on safely and legally viewing this spectacular and uncommon occasion.