volcano eruption

[sj5 4]

VOLCANO, Hawaii (AP) -- Visitors are flocking to witness the spectacular eruption at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, despite explosions and toxic fumes.

A time lapse photo shows lava flowing from Kilauea volcano into the ocean on March 18.

Nearly 9,000 people a day are touring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on average so far this year, a 2.5 percent increase over last year when the volcano's 25-year eruption was much more peaceful, said Cindy Orlando, the park's superintendent.

"Everybody's coming. I think they recognize they have an opportunity to participate and be here at a very historic time," Orlando said. "They're witnessing the creation of earth, and you can't experience that anywhere else in the world."

Inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, viewers can see the plume of ash and sulfur dioxide rising from Halemaumau Crater, which spewed small blobs of lava that fell along its rim this week and exploded gas and gravel-sized rocks on the summit last week -- the first such burst from Kilauea's main crater since 1924.

Outside the park along the southeast edge of the Big Island, as many as 10,000 visitors in one day have come to see fresh lava collide with the ocean, creating a giant cloud of steam, according to county and park officials. A new lookout point allows viewers to get about 600 feet from the lava flow.

Emergency officials are preparing to evacuate the area if the winds change, moving the fumes' course inland toward areas with a scattered population approaching 10,000. So far, Hawaii's famous tradewinds are pushing the plume to the southwest.

<H4 _extended="true">The highly concentrated levels of sulfur dioxide could pose serious health risks, especially to people with existing respiratory problems. State health officials say the gas has not posed serious problems so far because it is blowing more toward the ocean.</H4>"It's unpredictable. The last several months have been extremely unusual, and perhaps the most exciting activity on Kilauea in decades," said Tim Orr, a geologist at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Most of the national park remains open, including the visitor center. But closed areas include all trails leading to Halemaumau Crater and part of Crater Rim Drive near the ash-laden toxic gas plume.

The volcano has not given rangers reason to believe it's about to blow because there's no visible lava in the crater itself, little seismic activity and no surface swell, Orlando said.

"As long as the winds stay as they are, there is no danger," she said. "The park is Hawaii's gift to the world, so we want to keep the area open as long as we can."

Park ranger Arnold Nakata said he's trying to allow as many people as possible to view the volcano's recent activity while ensuring their safety.

"This kind of activity is inevitable," Nakata said of the changing lava flows. "It's minute-to-minute. At any given time, this could stop and change."

Edited March 30, 2008 by SJ

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I'd go and see it in a heartbeat! I have always been fascinated by volcanos and have the Mt. Saint Helens volcanocam bookmarked. Thanks for this post.

[sj5 4]

I'd go and see it in a heartbeat! I have always been fascinated by volcanos and have the Mt. Saint Helens volcanocam bookmarked. Thanks for this post.

you welcome.

[MrsCat 6]

My husband lives about 20 miles from the flow site in Hawaiian Shores. We were just there as the flow started to cool. His coworkers have some amazing pics and videos of them right next to the flow, starting sticks on fire and stuff. That was a few days before I arrived.

Standing back 6 feet from the lava felt like standing 2 inches from a hot BBQ. My photos are nowhere this amazing. But the ocean is steaming from the lava flow (its not a wave crashing on shore). We got a flight over the Pu'u O'o vent and it was pretty neat and terrifying at the same time.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

cool picture - I was just at Volcanoes over Christmas. Sadly, no eruptions were taking place then.

Is that near Pahoa where your husband lives? I absolutely love that part of Hawaii.

[MrsCat 6]

cool picture - I was just at Volcanoes over Christmas. Sadly, no eruptions were taking place then.

Is that near Pahoa where your husband lives? I absolutely love that part of Hawaii.

Yup, he lives in a subdivision just 2 minutes from Pahoa. I LOVE Pahoa, much more than Hilo. I was there are Christmas. We must have been ships passing in the night. I cannot wait to move there and NEVER experience winter again.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

cool picture - I was just at Volcanoes over Christmas. Sadly, no eruptions were taking place then.

Is that near Pahoa where your husband lives? I absolutely love that part of Hawaii.

Yup, he lives in a subdivision just 2 minutes from Pahoa. I LOVE Pahoa, much more than Hilo. I was there are Christmas. We must have been ships passing in the night. I cannot wait to move there and NEVER experience winter again.

We stayed in Hilo but spent a lot of time in the area around Pahoa. I just love that part of the island and have entertained thoughts of leaving the mainland and moving there. I am actually kind of jealous of you.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

I cannot wait to move there and NEVER experience winter again.

I sooo know what you mean

As for the vulcano.. I've been to Hilo last september but unfortunately we didn't go that way, it was really bad weather when we visted the big island and kinda stayed near the city itself. Hopefully I can go there soon to check it out myself when we got the visa approved.

[MrsCat 6]

I cannot wait to move there and NEVER experience winter again.

I sooo know what you mean

As for the vulcano.. I've been to Hilo last september but unfortunately we didn't go that way, it was really bad weather when we visted the big island and kinda stayed near the city itself. Hopefully I can go there soon to check it out myself when we got the visa approved.

Yeah. . . . someone else moving to the Isles . . . . and jeepers I thought I was moving far from home. The Netherlands . . . yikes!

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Yeah. . . . someone else moving to the Isles . . . . and jeepers I thought I was moving far from home. The Netherlands . . . yikes!

I know lol.. it's about 24 hours travelling (incl. a stopover tho) and 12 hours time difference lol, almost exactly the other end of the world. Not the easiest decision I made in my life lol.

Oh well, we looked at all sides of me travelling there and her travelling here and decided it would be better to live on Hawaii for now.. maybe later on we will move to Europe lol, we'll see how things work out ^^

It's a paradise over there so yah