The county has canceled a community meeting on lava scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday in Pahoa because it is preparing an emergency response for possible effects from Hurricane Hector.
The county has canceled a community meeting on lava scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday in Pahoa because it is preparing an emergency response for possible effects from Hurricane Hector.
The Category 4 storm has entered the Central Pacific and is expected to pass south of South Point on Wednesday morning.
There has been a lull since Saturday in both lava output from fissure 8 in Kilauea volcano’s lower east rift zone and seismic activity at the summit, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists.
A flyover this morning of the fissure showed some lava welling up in the vent but “everything outside of the pond has crusted over,” said Janet Snyder, spokeswoman for Mayor Harry Kim. She pointed out that doesn’t necessarily mean lava isn’t moving, as it could be doing so in an underground tube.
Snyder said lava continues to enter the ocean at two points, Kapoho Cove and the former Ahalanui Beach Park.
At last report, Pohoiki boat ramp was still intact, with lava about 230 feet away.
The last summit collapse at Halema‘uma‘u crater was shortly before noon Thursday and there’s been no subsidence of the crater floor. Earthquakes in the summit area have reduced dramatically since then, as well.
Meanwhile, Pu‘u O‘o vent has seen a recent uptick in emissions of sulfur dioxide gas. It’s emitting about 1,200 tons of the toxic gas a day, compared to the previous level of about 100 tons per day.
Snyder said scientists are not drawing any conclusions from that as of yet. She added there is a light plume and water vapor coming from Pu‘u O‘o.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
