The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, has erupted on the US island of Hawaii, international media reported. Authorities are warning nearby residents of falling debris and volcanic ash.
The eruption began on Sunday evening (local time). The US geological organization USGS reported Monday morning that lava flows were detected at the top of the volcano. For the moment, the nearby villages are not yet threatened.
However, the organization has warned residents around the volcano to prepare for the eruption. The service reports that the first stage of an eruption is often unpredictable and that lava flows can change direction quickly.
Scientists have been monitoring Mauna Loa for some time due to recent tremors around the volcano’s summit. The last eruption dates back to 1984.
Mauna Loa rises more than 4,000 meters above sea level and is the largest active volcano in the world. The nearby Kilauea volcano is much smaller, but still caused a lot of damage on the island during an eruption in 2018. That eruption later destroyed at least seven hundred nearby homes.
Some slopes of Mauna Loa are much steeper than those of Kilauea, so the lava can flow faster. During an eruption in 1950, lava flowed 15 miles into the ocean in three hours.
