Hot Lava from Kilauea’s Volcanic Eruption Now Moves towards Pacific Ocean Creating Toxic ‘Laze’

As per recent reports, the hot lava from the volcanic eruptions in Hawaii is now entering the Pacific Ocean. When lava hits the ocean we get a product called ‘Laze’ which is a mix of lava and haze. This toxic mix sends up hydrochloric acid and volcanic glass particles into the air. ‘Laze’ can reach up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit that could cause severe burns. Lava entering the Pacific Ocean has become a big cause of concern for local people and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory because ‘Laze’ can cause hazardous lung damage, eye, and skin irritation and can also lead to deaths. ‘Laze ‘can travel 15 miles and cause ‘Lava Bombs’ that can weigh as much as refrigerators. Geologist Dr. Carolyn Parcheta said that these ‘Lava Bombs’ can injure or even kill, if humans become their victims.

Fresh lava is shooting up like massive orange fountains from fissures on a regular basis. The consistency of the lava has become runnier which in turn is causing it to move faster. Around two dozen fissures have cracked opened the earth’s surface since the massive volcano erupted and some of the old fissures have reactivated. Dr.Parcheta also said that now people would witness more activity, potentially higher fountains and more lava flows. The lava is spreading the length of two or four football fields an hour.

Last weekend, the Kilauea volcano had erupted twice, which at one point of time launched a cloud of ash up to 10,000 feet high. The eruptions have caused tremors with a magnitude of 5.0 and 4.9. Since the massive eruption took place on May 3 there have been in total 3,000 earthquakes that hit Hawaii’s Big Island. Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard has enforced a Lava Entry Safety Zone to ensure safe navigation for all waterway users.

Currently, the lava is flowing mostly towards the south which is away from where most of the residents live. The few residents who reside there have been advised to evacuate the area or stay indoors with windows shut if they have chosen not to leave. One of the residents in the Island- Ikaika Marzo said "It sounds like 10 or 20 jets taking off from your backyard at the same time. It's been like hell. It's like huge grenades going off. It shakes the whole community."  

The volcano has hit the Leilani Estates the hardest, burying a dozen of homes. While most residents have been asked to evacuate sensitive areas, residents like John Artymovich didn’t flee and decided to stay on till the last. The resident of Leilani Estate has said “I have no fear of not getting out if something catastrophic does happen. I don’t believe that anything catastrophic will happen.”