World’s largest active volcano erupts 38 years later in Hawaii

Mauna Loa, located in Hawaii, the largest active volcano on the planet, erupted on Sunday, 27 local time, according to information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The volcano is located in the central region of the Island of Hawaii.

Although the eruption has not posed a risk to residential areas so far, the public has been alarmed in case they may need to leave the areas closest to the volcano. Falk Amelung, a professor at the University of Miami who studies Mauna Loa, said in an interview with The Washington Post that earthquakes are common consequences of volcanic eruption.

#mauna loa It erupts from vents in the Northeast Rift area. Streams move downhill to the north. USGS Photos from the Civil Air Patrol battle. #MaunaLoaExploded @Volcanoes_NPS @Hawaii_EMA @Civil DefenseHI pic.twitter.com/kUYWYPdk4L

– USGS Volcanoes ?? (@USGSVolkans) 28 November 2022

According to the USGS, the northeastern rift of Mauna Loa volcano has erupted 8 times since the mid-19th century, in 1843, 1852, 1855–1856, 1880–1881, 1899, 1935–1936, 1942, and 1984.

This short video shows the thermal camera images of the beginning of the event. #mauna loa eruption from the summit of the volcano. The temperature in degrees C is shown in the right colored scale bar. For additional information, visit: https://t.co/rfwkMVSJKM #MaunaLoaExploded pic.twitter.com/PhHXbq9nNa

– USGS Volcanoes ?? (@USGSVolkans) 28 November 2022

While there are currently no signs of greater risk to the population, the USGS says that past eruptions have shown that the situation is very dynamic and can change rapidly.