Fountains of lava up to 200 feet (60 meters) high have been fired into the air from Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, geologists say, generating rivers of molten rock from the world’s largest active volcano, IgbereTV reports
Four fissures have now opened up on the mammoth mountain, which burst into life on Sunday for the first time in almost 40 years.
Vast clouds of steam and smoke were billowing into the sky from the volcano, which makes up half of Hawaii’s Big Island.
“Estimates of the tallest fountain heights are between 100–200 feet” but most are much smaller, the United States Geological Survey said in an update Monday.
“There is a visible gas plume from the erupting fissure fountains and lava flows, with the plume primarily being blown to the Northwest.”
Geologists say there is currently no risk to people and property below the eruption.
“The longest and largest lava flow is issuing from fissure three,” the USGS said Tuesday.
“This lava flow crossed the Mauna Loa Weather Observatory Road… and the flow front was located approximately six miles (10 kilometers) from Saddle Road (the main road at the foot of the northern flank).”
The lava fountain from the newest fissure was up to 33 feet high, the agency said
