Rivers of lava and Dantesque images: one of the largest volcanoes in the world erupted again and set off alarms in Hawaii

One of the world's largest active volcanoes, Kilauea, erupted again Wednesday in Hawaii, spewing rivers of lava as a series of fissures opened at the base of the crater, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

As seen in aerial images, volcanologists described as "dynamic" the eruption of this volcano that was active almost continuously between 1983 and 2019.

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey told AFP they began detecting activity, though restricted to the boundaries of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and away from urban centers.

Kilauea's eruption comes months after its large neighbor, Mauna Loa volcano, became active. AP Photo

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High levels of volcanic gas are the main danger concern, because they can be distributed with wind currents," they said.

"As sulfur dioxide leaves the summit, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) that has been observed on Kilauea," the volcanologists noted. The combined scene between the emanated mineral and the fire, left Dantesque portraits.

This volcanic smog can cause respiratory problems in people and animals, and affect crops.

Alert in Hawaii for the eruption of a large volcano. AP Photo

The rash can also produce the so-called Pele hairs, threads of basaltic glass, which measure up to two meters, can irritate the skin and affect sight.

The eruption comes months after its big neighbor, Mauna Loa volcano became active. It is the world's largest volcano, which erupted for the first time in four decades late last year, with lava fountains up to 60 meters high, and emanated rivers of melted rocks.

Kilauea is smaller than Mauna Loa, but is much more active, and frequently amazes tourists who take helicopter trips to see these incandescent lava shows on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Explosions more than 60 meters high threw the Kilauea volcano, one of the largest in the world, which erupted again on Wednesday. AFP Photo

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in a statement that it detected "glow in webcam images of Kilauea's summit, indicating the beginning of an eruption at Halemaumau Crater."

The critical zone, authorities said, is far from inhabited areas.

The eruption is "dynamic," Hawaii officials said, on alert for volcanic gas. AP Photo

The largest source of lava is 15 meters high, and during the earliest phase of the eruption magma explosions reached 60 meters high.

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