2:45 PM: Seismicity Increases at Summit

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Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 2:45 p.m.: Seismicity Increases at Summit

Fissure 8 continues to erupt lava into the perched channel leading northeastward from the vent. Surging was noted at the Fissure 8 cone during the overflight but had stopped by the time ground crews arrived to verify it.

Lava in the channel is a bit lower this morning and there were no significant overflows.

Pohoiki boat harbor on Saturday, July 14, 2018. Click to enlarge. PC: HFD.

The southern margin of the flow was located about 0.5 miles from the boat ramp at Isaac Hale Park this morning. Despite no visible surface connection to the fissure 8 channel, lava continues to ooze out at several points on the 3.7 mile wide flow front into the ocean.

No other fissures were active this morning.

Kīlauea Volcano Summit

Seismicity has increased as has been the pattern leading up to collapse/explosion events beneath the summit. The last event occurred at 11:42 a.m. July 16, with energy equivalent to a magnitude-5.3 earthquake. The USGS expects a high rate of earthquakes (25-35 per hour) to continue until the next collapse/explosion event occurs later today. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halemaʻumaʻu continues in response to the ongoing subsidence at the summit.

An aerial view of Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone taken during HVO’s early morning overflight today—looking to the west, up the lava channel toward fissure 8 (center, far distance). The fissure 8 channel was full this morning, but lava was not quite up to the levee rim, so there were no significant overflows, July 16, 2018. PC: USGS

Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 6 a.m.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Fissure 8 continues to erupt lava into the channel heading northeast toward Kapoho into the ocean near Ahalanui.

The following policies remain in effect:

• Be aware that spillovers of the channel and other breakouts are possible on the active flow field.
• Do not access the active flow field due to extreme hazard.

Disaster assistance is available islandwide to individuals and businesses in Hawai‘i County that have been affected by the Kilauea eruption.

• The Disaster Recovery Center located at the Kea‘au High School Gym is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays. If you need a ride, buses run between the two shelters and the Disaster Recovery Center.

Placards are available at the Civil Defense office located at 920 Ululani St. in Hilo.

Community meeting tonight at 5 p.m. at the Pāhoa High School Cafeteria.