Smoke filled the Hawaiian sky on Sunday, glimmering with bright red, signalling the very first eruption of the world’s largest active volcano.

Mauna Loa means “long mountain” in Hawaii. Exploded at approx 11:30 p.m on Sunday, “it had been showing signs of unrest since this September,” according to the U.S Geological Survey. 

The world’s highest active volcano’s alert level has also been designated from advisory to “warning,” – summing up the highest level of alarming classification. 

Emergency officials deliberated no evacuation orders had been issued and would not impact the populated areas of the island at this particular stage.  

Mauna Loa, the world’s largest and most active volcano, is located inside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, covering half of the United State’s Big Island. 

Mauna Loa Eruption 2022

 

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Erupted for the first time in these many decades, Mauna Loa’s Eruption rises 13,679ft (4,169m) above sea level and spans an area of more than 2,000 square miles (5,179 sq km). 

Happened at Moku’āweoweo, the volcano’s summit caldera. Followed by a series of eruption warnings after the recent earthquakes in the region, covering dozens of reported tremors on the same day. This eruption can contaminate the water supplies, disturbs vegetation, and is very irritating to human lungs. 

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“Based on past events, the early stages of a Mauna Loa Eruption can be very dynamic, and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly,” the USGS deliberated. According to them, you will be stunned to know that Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843. The last eruption of 1984 transported lava flows within 5 miles of Hilo (the most populous town of the island). 

The mayor of Hawaii – Mr. Mitch Roth, said the eruption does not appear to be threatening any communities; as a precautionary step, the government opened shelters for those who chose to evacuate at the Old Kona Airport in Kailua-Kona and Ka’u gym in Pahala.

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Mauna Loa is Taller Than Mount Everest

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Factually, Mauna Loa is taller than Mount Everest. You read it right; it’s one of 15 volcanoes in eight Hawaiian Islands. As of Monday morning’s local time, the lava destruction appeared to show no signs of exiting the summit. But the demonstrated history shows lava can change rapidly in its early stages. 

There is a chance of risk that conveys that winds may carry volcanic gas and fine ash to the nearest communities.