7 PM: Explosive Eruption at Kīlauea Summit

This news story will be updated throughout the day as new information becomes available and new articles will be added to the website’s “News” section. Previous information about ongoing events can be found in Big Island Now’s “Volcano Blog” section.

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KĪLAUEA SUMMIT LIVESTREAM LINK

7 p.m.: Explosive Eruption at Kīlauea Summit

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that an explosive eruption at Kīlauea summit has occurred at 6:52 p.m.  The resulting ash plume may affect the surrounding areas.  The wind may carry the ash plume to the southwest toward Wood Valley, Pahala and Ocean View.

• The danger from this eruption is ash fallout.  The major response is to protect yourself from fallout.
• If you are at home, stay indoors with the windows closed.  Turn on your radio and listen for updates from authorities.
• If you are in your car, keep the windows closed.  Ash fallout may cause poor driving conditions, due to limited visibility and slippery driving conditions.  Drive with extreme caution, or pull over and park.
• After the hazard has passed, do check your home, and especially your catchment system for any impact that may affect your water quality.

4 p.m.: Halema‘uma‘u Crater Continues to Subside and Enlarge

The benches are sections of the former crater rim and adjacent Kīlauea caldera floor that have incrementally dropped or slumped into the crater as the summit area has subsided since early May.

Halema’uma’u crater at 8:30 a.m., view is toward the south. Several benches are clearly visible within the crater. The benches are sections of the former crater rim and adjacent Kīlauea caldera floor that have incrementally dropped or slumped into the crater as the summit area has subsided since early May.

Lower East Rift Zone Eruption Continues

Lava continues to erupt at a high rate from Fissure 8 and flow within the established channel to the ocean. No channel overflows were observed during this morning’s overflight.

Lava exiting the cone forms a series of standing waves in the uppermost section of the channel.

The fountains have built a horseshoe-shaped cone as lava fragments are intermittently hurled onto and over the growing rim. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Fissure 8 continues to erupt with a full channel flowing to the ocean at Kapoho.  Currently, there is no immediate threat, but persons near the active flow should heed warnings from Civil Defense. Trade winds are pushing vog to the southwest.

You may monitor vog and air quality conditions online using the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard, linked on the Civil Defense website. (vog.ivhhn.org/)

Many resources are available to individuals, homeowner, renters, businesses, and nonprofits, who were affected by the Kilauea eruption disaster.

• The Disaster Recover Center is a one-stop shop where you can go to register for disaster assistance and get help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Small Business Administration, State and County government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
• The Disaster Recovery Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is located at the Kea‘au High School Gym.
• If you need a ride, buses run between the two shelters and the Disaster Recovery Center between 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• To learn more about disaster assistance from FEMA, please visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

Free medical, dental and eye care will be available today, June 22 and tomorrow, June 23 at “Tropic Care 2018” at Kea‘au High School between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Tropic Care will also hold a free legal clinic tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2:30 pm. Tropic Care is open to everyone, regardless of whether or not they are affected by the Kilauea eruption.

12:30 p.m: Full Channel Flowing to Ocean

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Fissure 8 continues to erupt with a full channel flowing to the ocean at Kapoho.

The lava fountain from fissure 8 is visible behind the laze plume rising from the entry point. USGS Photo taken June 21, 2018. Click to enlarge

There is no immediate threat at this time, persons near the eruption should be prepared and listen for Civil Defense updates.

9 a.m.: New Thermal Map

This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 21.

Click to enlarge

The fountain at Fissure 8 remains active, with the lava flow entering the ocean at Kapoho. Very small, short flows have been active near the Fissure 6 and Fissure 16/18 area. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. The thermal map was constructed by stitching many overlapping oblique thermal images collected by a handheld thermal camera during a helicopter overflight of the flow field. The base is a copyrighted color satellite image (used with permission) provided by Digital Globe.

The eruption in the lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) continues with little change.

Lava fountains from the Fissure 8 spatter cone continue to flow in the established channel to the Kapoho coastline. A dominant ocean entry on the south edge of the flow front is producing a large laze plume. Upslope, minor overflows from the channel occur periodically, but are short-lived and do not extend beyond the current flow field. Fissure 6 is no longer active. Fissures 16 displayed incandescence and weak lava fountain was observed at Fissure 22 by this morning’s overflight crew.

Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from the lava fountain at Fissure 8 continue to fall downwind of the fissure, dusting the ground within a few hundred yards of the vent. High winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.

Kīlauea Volcano Summit

Seismicity remained elevated overnight at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, reaching over 40 earthquakes per hour at one point. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halemaʻumaʻu continues in response to ongoing subsidence at the summit.

Sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano’s summit have dropped to levels that are about half those measured prior to the onset of the current episode of eruptive activity. This gas and minor amounts of ash are being transported downwind, with small bursts of ash and gas accompanying intermittent explosive activity.

6 a.m.: Dominant Ocean Entry on the South Edge of Flow

The eruption in the lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) continues with little change.

Live Panorama of Lower East Rift Zone Camera from Lower East Rift Zone [PGcam]
Last Updated June 22, 2018, at 7:50 a.m.

Lava fountains from the Fissure 8 spatter cone continue to feed the established channel shuttling lava to the Kapoho coastline. A dominant ocean entry on the south edge of the flow front produced a large laze plume throughout the day. Upslope, minor overflows from the channel occurred periodically, but all were short-lived and did not extend beyond the current flow field. Fissure 6 oozed lava sporadically through the early morning hours.

Fissures 16/18 and 22 displayed incandescence early this morning.

Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from the lava fountain at Fissure 8 continue to fall downwind of the fissure, dusting the ground within a few hundred yards of the vent. High winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Fissure 8 continues to erupt with a full channel flowing to the ocean at Kapoho. There is no immediate threat at this time, persons near the eruption should be prepared and listen for Civil Defense updates. Trade winds are pushing vog to the southwest.

Residents of Hawai‘i County who suffered damage or losses from the recent Kīlauea volcanic eruption and earthquakes, can register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The following is provided for your information:

• A Disaster Recovery Center or DRC, jointly operated by Hawaii County, the State of Hawaii, and FEMA is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is located at the Kea‘au High School Gym.
• FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and state and county government agencies will be present at the center.
• If you need a ride, buses will be running between the two shelters and the DRC between 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m..

Free medical, dental and eye care will be available June 22 and June 23, at “Tropic Care 2018” at Kea‘au High School between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Free breakfast and lunch will be available for children. Tropic Care is open to everyone, regardless of whether or not they are affected by the Kīlauea eruption.