CNN reporter shows the lava flow of Mauna Loa 1:50
(CNN) --
Hawaii officials have activated the National Guard to prepare for the response to the eruption of Mauna Loa, whose lava has been flowing steadily toward a critical highway for the state for days.
The lava that has been pouring out of the volcano for the past week is not a threat to communities or property, authorities said.
Still, the eruption of the world's largest active volcano has residents and officials on edge as molten rock flows onto the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, threatening to shut down at least part of the route linking the east and west sides. of the Big Island.
Mauna Loa presents 2 new lava flows.
See the impressive aerial images of the burning magma
"Governor David Ige and General Kenneth Hara activated 20 Hawaii National Guard service members Monday and placed them on active duty to assist Hawaii County with traffic control and other functions in the wake of the Mauna Loa eruption. the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.
As of Monday, the lava was about 3.5 kilometers from the highway, known locally as Saddle Road, according to the US Geological Survey. And the rate at which the lava moves was unpredictable, making it difficult for experts to Predict what specific day he will hit the road or if he could hit the road.
“There are many variables at play and both the direction and timing of flow advances are expected to change over periods of hours to days, making it difficult to estimate when or if the flow will impact the Daniel K. Inouye Expressway,” said the geological study.
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The impressive lava flows of the Mauna Loa volcano.
Over the past day, lava has moved toward the highway at a speed of 7.5 meters per hour, down from more than 20 meters per hour over the weekend, according to the geological survey.
"Although the rate of advance has slowed...the lava flow remains active with a continuous supply from the fissure 3 vent."
The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984, when its lava reached just over 7 kilometers from Hilo, the largest population center on the Big Island.
At more than 4,000 meters above sea level, the volcano covers half of the island of Hawaii, according to the geological survey.
Mauna Loa erupted again on November 27, joining nearby Kilauea, which has been erupting since last year.
Both volcanoes are located within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which remains open and urges viewers to view the simultaneous eruptions safely.
“We are entering week two of the Mauna Loa eruption.
Two volcanoes, two eruptions, one park.
Today was another “brilliant” morning!” the park said in an online post Monday.
Thermal cameras capture the exact moment of the start of the eruption of Mauna Loa in Hawaii
The duration of the eruption is unknown.
As officials work to determine if and when the lava flow will reach the main highway, a volcano expert said the duration of the eruption will play a role in what happens.
“We don't know how long this eruption is going to last, and that will determine whether or not the road is more threatened,” said Natalia Deligne, a volcanologist with the US Geological Survey.
at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Closing the highway would lengthen residents' commutes by hours, creating "a tremendous inconvenience," Ige told CNN on Saturday.
Still, many flocked to see the rare sight of two volcanoes erupting just 34 kilometers apart.
Lava from Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii.
For many native Hawaiians, the eruption of volcanoes has incredible spiritual significance.
On Friday, Ku'ulei Vickery, a native Hawaiian and teacher at a nearby public school, was among those who witnessed the flow of bright orange molten rock.
She performed a traditional Hawaiian chant and left grown rosemary in her backyard as an offering.
“As a native, I am acknowledging the space that I am in.
I am recognizing the goddess Pele and the people who have come before me, my ancestors,” she said.
“You don't go to anyone's house empty-handed.
So this is what I brought."
To accommodate the many residents and tourists drawn by the volcano's eruptions, officials created a secure observation point on a one-way route accessible via the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, the Civil Defense Agency said. of Hawaii County.
Officials also implored the public to be alert to the potential dangers that eruptions pose to air quality.
Hawaii's Mauna Loa creates a rare double-eruption event, adding to a nearby volcano that has been active since 2021
Volcanic emissions include sulfur dioxide, which reacts with other elements in the atmosphere and can begin to form fine particles that cause 'vog', a type of volcanic air pollution known as volcanic smog.
“'Vog' creates potential airborne health hazards for residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock operations,” according to the USGS.
The National Park Service urges vulnerable groups, which typically include the elderly and children, to use caution when viewing simultaneous eruptions.
"People with pre-existing respiratory conditions are especially sensitive to poor air quality and should check the air quality alert before visiting (the site)," the park service said.
CNN's David Culver, Anna-Maja Rappard, Elizabeth Wolfe, Amy Simonson and Chris Boyette contributed to this report.
Hawaii Mauna Loa
