Topline
Hawaii officials issued a warning Thursday that an uptick in earthquakes on the Big Island’s Mauna Loa volcano—the largest active volcano in the world—could cause its first eruption in nearly 40 years, advising residents to prepare for a potential disaster.
Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, is in a state of “heightened unrest.”
Key Facts
State officials urged Big Island residents to prepare to pack a “go bag” with food in case of an eruption–although officials say the threat of eruption is not yet “imminent.”
The volcano has been in a state of “heightened unrest” for more than a month, with the number of earthquakes rising from between 10 and 20 per day to 40 to 50 per day, likely due to an increase in magma inside the volcano, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
The strongest was a 5.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the Big Island two weeks ago, although local officials said it did not cause major damage or injuries.
An eruption could impact the entire island of 200,000 people, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said—Mauna Loa makes up more than 50% of the island’s total landmass.
Mauna Loa’s summit has been closed to backcountry hiking since early October due to the increase in seismic activity, though parts of the park and a lookout point remain open.
Key Background
Mauna Loa has not erupted since 1984, four months after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake in the volcano’s summit. There were no deaths reported from the eruption, although its lava flow came within four miles of the city of Hilo. Landslides and a tsunami caused by an eruption in 1868 killed 77 people, according to the National Park Service. In 2018, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted, destroying 700 homes.
Crucial Quote
“Not to panic everybody, but they have to be aware of (the possibility of a large eruption),” Magno said. “There’s a potential for some kind of lava disaster.”
Further Reading
Big Island residents advised to pack ‘go’ bag as Mauna Loa rumbles (Honolulu Star Advertiser)
Hawaii’s Big Island gets warning as huge volcano rumbles (Associated Press)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/10/28/hawaii-officials-warn-worlds-largest-active-volcano-could-erupt/