Hawaii Braces for Worse Lava Flows From Erupting Volcano

Hawaii Braces for Worse Lava Flows From Erupting Volcano
An ash plume rises from the Overlook Vent in Halema'uma'u crater in Hawaii on May 11, 2018. USGS/Handout via REUTERS
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PAHOA, Hawaii—More destructive lava flows could soon hit Hawaii’s Big Island as the Kilauea volcano erupts, posing a greater threat than oozing magma that has so far destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate, scientists said.

As a lava lake at Kilauea’s summit drains inside the volcano, magma is running underground. It could burst to the surface as large, fast-moving and intensely hot lava flows and produce higher levels of toxic gases, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge Tina Neal said.