VIDEO: Fissure 8 Slows, Pohoiki Still Stands

Videographer Mick Kalber released this video of an overflight of the East Rift Zone he took with Paradise Helicopters on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.

Kalber stated:

Big changes at the Leilani eruption on the Big Island of Hawai‘i today [Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018].

Activity at Fissure 8 has slowed to a crawl. The river channel has crusted over and is moving very little.

Pohoiki still stands, although residual lava in the system continues to slowly encroach on the boat ramp.

This morning she was in the process of slowly taking the “Dead Trees” area, but had not rounded the corner. Hopefully, the slow down will stop Pele’s advance on Pohoiki Bay.

The only area showing much activity at all was around Kapoho Crater. Described by Bruce Omori as a ‘”train wreck,” lava is jumbled in several directions, with breakouts sending lava from the ponded area near the cinder pits back around the west side of the crater and also advancing on the 1960 flow again near four corners.

Again, this is most likely residual lava that will spread out, but make little significant advance in any direction. Air in the area has vastly improved, and spirits have been lifted by this recent slow down. Is it possible she could be stopping after 95 days of absolutely surreal, devastating eruptive activity? Time will tell.