Kilauea starts week with another explosive eruption

UPDATE: 10 p.m.

Highway 130 will re-open to all traffic beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Kamaili Road will be open to residents only. Highway 137 will be open from Highway 130 north to Opihikao Road.

McKenzie State Recreation Area and the new lava flow areas remain closed.

Vacation rentals as well as all businesses in the Kalapana area can resume normal operations, said Hawaii County Civil Defense.

A community meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Pahoa High School.

1:35 p.m.

Hawaii County Civil Defense said the Department of Health determined current weather conditions resulted in elevated gas levels in the lower East Rift Zone and Pahoa areas of the Big Island.

While tradewinds are expected from the northeast later this afternoon to help improve air quality and push vog toward the southwest for the rest of this week, high levels of sulphur dioxide were measured in the area earlier today.

Due to the high gas levels, residents and visitors in Pahoa and the surrounding areas should:

>> Shelter in place or leave the area.

>> Use air conditioning for relief (set unit to recirculate air).

>> Reduce exposure by limiting outdoor activity.

For current information, visit the Hawaii County Civil Defense or State Department of Health websites.

12:55 p.m.

The United States Postal Service has announced mail delivery on routes served by the Pahoa Post Office is suspended today due to to the Kilauea Volcano eruption on Hawaii island.

Affected customers can still pick up their mail at the Pahoa Post Office. Retail operations at the post office are not affected.

The USPS says delivery will resume “when conditions permit.”

6:30 a.m.

A moderate earthquake preceded another explosive eruption at Kilauea’s summit overnight with a small ash plume.

The magnitude-5.3 quake struck at 1:24 a.m., 4.2 miles southwest of Volcano at a depth of 0.68 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Winds may carry the small ash plume that was generated to the southwest toward Wood Valley, Pahala and Ocean View, Hawaii County Civil Defense said.

Meanwhile, at fissure 8, a spatter cone continues to supply a lava channel, resulting in intermittent small overflows. The cone itself is 180 feet tall and lava fountains have rarely been cresting that point. Lava continues to enter the ocean over a broad area.

Fissure 22 is spattering up to 262 feet above a conical spatter cone and is feeding a short lava flow moving slowly northeast along the edge of earlier flows, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials.

Volcanic gas emissions remain very high from both fissure eruptions and trade wind conditions are expected to deliver vog to the south and west of Hawaii island.

SUNDAY, JULY 1

According to Hawaii County Civil Defense, Kilauea’s fissure 8 remains “very active” this morning and continues to feed a lava channel to the ocean at Kapoho as it did yesterday, with a “broad ocean entry” along the shoreline and fresh lava oozing at Kapoho Beach Lots. Fissure 22 also remains active and is producing a short flow.

Gas emissions from the eruption and laze at the ocean entry point also continue to be very high. The National Weather Service reports trade winds have returned, which will push vog to the south and west sides of Hawaii island.

Currently, residents of Kapoho are not allowed in the neighborhood due to active lava.

Residents in nearby areas are reminded that frequent earthquakes can affect connections to local power, water and gas; monitor carefully and check all connections regularly.

Drivers in areas with volcanic activity should still be on the lookout for cracks in roadways.

Disaster assistance is available island-wide to those that have been affected by the Kilauea eruption.

>> Register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by visiting the Disaster Recovery Center, calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA), or online at disasterassistance.gov.

>> The Disaster Recovery Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Keaau High School Gym. If you need a ride, buses run between the two shelters and the Disaster Recovery Center between 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily.

>> For more information, visit http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lava-related.

Kilauea lower East Rift Zone lava flows and fissures, June 30 by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd

Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea’s lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. (see large map)

MORE KILAUEA COVERAGE
>> Halemaumau Crater at Kilauea is double former size, scientists say
>> Puna residents complain of squatters, looters and thieves
>> Pahoa women provide comfort and support to their neighbors
>> Planned lava-viewing area might not be close to Puna, Ige says
>> World Central Kitchen helps ensure quality meals available for evacuees
>> Kilauea emissions affect Malama Ki Forest reserve
>> Salvation Army serves up meals at Red Cross shelters
>> Lava blocks access to favorite Hawaii island shoreline sites
>> Charter school co-founder looks to future after eruption
>> Closed voting sites and early absentee ballots raise concerns in Puna
>> Hula conference, chants to Pele coincide with the eruption
>> Kilauea eruption has cost state, county more than $5.8M
>> Lava output far outpaces previous eruptions
>> For National Guard, lava disaster presents real-world mission