Close-Up of Fissure 17 Erupting Near Hawaii's Leilani Estates

  • 6 years ago
Fissure 17 formed on the eastern side of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano and spewed lava into the air on May 13.The area of Pahoa, Hawaii, had experienced the opening of 18 fissures since the volcano erupted on May 3. Fissure 17 is a few hundred yards long and drew attention on Sunday evening when it caused “lava fountaining, explosion of spatter bombs hundreds of feet into the air, and several advancing lava flow lobes moving generally northeast” according to a report from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.The report said the fissure formed near Halekamahina Loop Road, forcing residents to evacuate. Volcanic gas emissions were expected to remain elevated in the area. Credit: Lava News via Storyful

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