Moderate quake, small explosion shake Kilauea summit
UPDATE: Wednesday 5:30 a.m.
Another moderate earthquake this morning in the Kilauea summit area was followed by a minor ash explosion and emission from the volcano.
The magnitude-5.3 quake struck at 4:22 a.m. 3.9 miles west-southwest of Volcano at a depth of 0.2 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
No tsunami was expected, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
The small ash plume produced by the explosion rose to less than 2,000 feet as it was blown downwind.
6 p.m.
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The National Weather Service says light winds overnight will push emissions into the interior of Hawaii island, including Hilo and northern and western parts of the island. Tradewinds are expected to build by Thursday.
The Department of Health will hold community meetings discussing volcanic ash and vog at Konawaena Elementary in Kealakekua at 5 p.m. Wednesday and at Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School on Thursday at 6 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said small overflows were observed on the northside of fissure 8’s channel near Pohoiki Road overnight and this morning. The overflows stalled this afternoon.
Another small, sluggish overflow along Luana Street is moving in a northwest direction.
Fissures 6, 15 and 16 continue to ooze lava and fume.
2:50 p.m.
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center officials said a 4.4 magnitude earthquake occurred at 2:24 p.m. centered near the south side of Kilauea Volcano.
This earthquake was not large enough to cause a tsunami.
The quake was felt as far away as Hilo, more than 50 miles from the epicenter, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website’s “Did you feel it?” self-reporting survey.
The USGS lists more than 300 quakes of magnitude 2.5 or higher over the last 24 hours on the Big Island.
NOON
A total of 894 people have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance as of today, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense.
The regularly scheduled community meeting at the Pahoa High School Cafeteria at 5 p.m. today will include representatives from the Small Business Administration and FEMA.
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9:30 a.m.
The latest count of homes destroyed is at 577, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense at this morning’s briefing.
Those are homes that have been verified, according to Civil Defense spokeswoman Janet Snyder, by matching real property tax records with aerial surveys, which are ongoing.
There have been no significant changes on fissure 8, which continues to erupt, and the lava channel has split into two channels at the Kapoho coast, resulting in small laze plumes.
The National Weather Service reports that today through Thursday, light winds are expected to push vog into the saddle and interior areas of the Big Island.
Winds are expected to shift to a more east to southeasterly direction today, spreading vog westward from the Big Island over the smaller islands from tonight into Thursday. A new high-pressure system will bring in breezy trades by Thursday afternoon, clearing out the lingering vog from the smaller islands by Friday morning.
Pele’s hair may reach Pahoa and as far north as Hawaiian Acres, weather officials said.
Doctors will determine tomorrow whether Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim will be discharged from the hospital, according to managing director Will Okabe. He is getting much-needed rest.
Tuesday 5:30 a.m.
There was another moderate earthquake followed by a small explosion and ash plume at Kilauea’s summit this morning.
The magnitude-5.3 quake struck at 5:05 a.m., 3.8 miles southwest of Volcano at a depth of 0.6 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The gas and ash emission following the quake reached a height of about 1,000 feet and was blown downwind, the USGS said.
Monday 11 p.m.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said fissures 16 and 18 continue to ooze lava while fissure 6 is mildly spattering. The size and shape of the flow field is virtually unchanged upslope but an additional 120 acres have been added to the western margin of the flow area since Friday.
The flow front at the coast of Kapoho Bay, fed by fissure 8, is about 1.5 miles across. Lava entry into the ocean is creating a large laze plume.
6:45 p.m.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists say while the fountaining vent known as fissure 8 continues to be very active with a “channelized flow” entering the ocean at Kapoho Bay, lava is now oozing from three other fissures that are being monitored and described as “weakly active.”
Fissures 16 and 18 are oozing lava, while fissure 6 appeared as an orange glow with mild spattering during this morning’s overflight, scientists said. The flow field appears to remain stable.
Fissure 6 reactivated overnight, HVO scientists said earlier today.
Fountains from fissure 8 reached up to 180 feet high, with lava entering the southern part of the Kapoho Bay, near Vacationland. The delta formed there is now about 360 acres. The vent is producing a large sulfur dioxide plume and a large laze plume at the ocean entry, they said.
Hawaii Civil Defense officials say 5,914 acres or more than 9 square miles of land have been affected by the Leilani Estates eruption, which began May 3. A total of 533 homes have been destroyed.
11 a.m.
Fissure 6 reactivated overnight.
The fissure is displaying incandescence and mild spattering, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials.
Volcanic gas emissions remain very high from fissure 8 eruptions. Winds are expected to bring vog to the central, south and western parts of the Hawaii island.
9 a.m.
Seismic activity continues at the summit of Kilauea after this morning’s moderate earthquake. The fissure 8 vent is producing a large sulfur dioxide plume and also a large laze plume at the ocean entry, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense.
Free medical, dental and eye care will be available today, Tuesday and Wednesday at “Tropic Care 2018” at Kea’au High School. Additional screening days are scheduled during the coming weeks.
6:20 a.m.
A preliminary magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck the summit area of Kilauea Volcano at 6:13 a.m.
No tsunami is expected due to the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
5:30 a.m.
Lava fountains up to 165 feet high were seen rising from fissure 8 Sunday evening.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials said the lava ocean entry remained broad with laze blown onshore. Fissures 16 and 18 continue to ooze lava.
Individuals should monitor air quality and limit outdoor activities if they have breathing issues. Air quality measurements can be monitored through the UH Vog Measurement and Prediction Project at http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/vmap/ .
The Disaster Recovery Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Keaau High School Gym. Shuttles to the center leave every 20 minutes from the Keaau Armory and every hour from the Pahoa Community Center.
Shuttle buses will run on the following schedules:
Route 1 — Keaau Armory and Keaau High School parking lot to Keaau High School gym. Continuous shuttle every 20 minutes. The last bus leaves Keaau gym at 8 p.m.
>> 7:30 a.m. – Keaau Armory
>> 7:35 a.m. – Keaau High School parking lot
>> 7:40 a.m. – Keaau High School gym
>> 7:50 a.m. – Armory
>> 7:55 a.m. – Parking lot
>> 8 a.m. – Gym
>> 8:05 a.m. – Parking lot
>> 8:10 a.m. – Armory
Route 2 — Pahoa Community Center to Keaau High School gym. Continuous shuttle every hour. The last bus leaves Pahoa shelter at 6 p.m.
>> 7:30 a.m. – Pahoa gym
>> 7:35 a.m. – Pahoa Community Center
>> 8 a.m. – Keaau High School gym
>> 8:35 a.m. – Pahoa Community Center
>> 9 a.m. – Keaau High School gym
For a list of the information you need to bring with you, or if you want to register online, go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.