Risk of explosive eruption from Hawaii volcano rising, scientists warn

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano could soon send boulders and ash shooting out of its summit crater in the kind of explosive eruption last displayed nearly a century ago.

Scientists said Wednesday the risks of an explosive summit eruption will rise in coming weeks as magma drains down the flank of the volcano toward the area where lava began erupting in a residential neighbourhood last week.

A summit explosion could also release ash, steam and sulfur dioxide emissions.

Kilauea has destroyed 36 structures — including 26 homes — since it began releasing lava from vents about 40 kilometres east of the summit crater. There are now 15 of the vents spread through Leilani Estates and neighbouring Lanipuna Gardens.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said a geothermal energy plant near the lava outbreak was accelerating its removal of stored flammable gas.

Removing flammable gas

The Puna Geothermal Venture plant has about 190,000 litres of pentane on site but he expected this would all be removed by the end of the day Thursday.

We don't know what's going on underground. Life and safety is what's most important.- Cindy Woodd, Canadian visitor

It would be "very, very hazardous" if a volcanic vent were to open under the facility where the fuel is stored, the governor said.

The plant, which is owned by Ormat Technologies of Reno, Nev., is across the highway from where lava has been erupting.

In the weeks ahead, the summit crater could eject blocks up to 1.8 metres in diameter up to 1.6 kilometres away, the United States Geological Survey said. It may also send pebbles shooting into the air several miles away, the USGS said. Distant towns such as Hilo, about 48 kilometres away, could get a dusting of ash.

Repeat of 1924 eruption?

The receding lava lake resembles conditions seen before a major summit eruption in 1924, said Tina Neal, scientist in charge at the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory.

That explosion killed one person and sent rocks, ash and dust into the air for 17 days.

This event could occur again when the summit lava lake drops so low that groundwater is able to flow into the conduit that feeds magma to the crater. The magma would heat the water, sending steam into the air that would push any accumulated rocks out in an explosion.

Don Swanson, a geologist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said the magma is likely to drop below the water table around the middle of the month. Scientists don't know how long after that an explosion could occur.

"We suspect it's a rapid process. We really don't know for certain," he told reporters on a conference call.

Park to close

No one lives in the immediate area of the summit crater. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which includes the crater and surrounding region, announced Wednesday that it will shut down Friday in anticipation of the possible explosive event.

"It seems pretty safe to me right now, but they'd know best," said Cindy Woodd, who was visiting from British Columbia. "We don't know what's going on underground. Life and safety is what's most important."

Authorities previously ordered nearly 2,000 residents to leave the neighbourhoods in and around the vents in the mostly rural district of Puna. But some ignored the order and stayed to watch over their property. Authorities went door to door in Lanipuna to get people out of their homes on Tuesday.

Police said Wednesday they arrested a man suspected of burglarizing homes in Leilani Estates. A resident saw the man leaving his house when he returned to retrieve personal belongings. The resident and a friend took the man to police officers who arrested him.

Some residents have refused to follow evacuation orders because of fears their homes will be looted.