UPDATE: 4:20 p.m.
Hawaii County Civil Defense officials say the agency is on “high alert on a 24-hour basis for the possibility of a volcanic eruption in the lower Puna area.”
The entire county emergency response team has been activated, officials said.
They also issued a new map of the high-risk areas, which run from Puu Oo crater down to Kapoho, including Leilani Estates and Kaohe Homesteads.
“All areas bordering the east rift zone are at high risk for eruption activities,” said a Hawaii County news released late this afternoon. “Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has identified magma movement in the lower east rift zone. We urge all residents to keep themselves informed and on the alert.”
County officials said that residents should be on the alert for lava inundation, fire, smoke, methane gas explosion, earthquakes, poor air quality.
Residents in the high-risk areas are urged to:
>> Prepare an emergency plan with family members immediately.
>> Stay informed by listening to the radio.
>> Report any unusual events to Civil Defense at 935-0031.
>> Call 935-0031 for special assistance.
Evacuation shelters will be open as needed, they said
UPDATE: 12:38 p.m.
The U.S. Geological Survey has upgraded the size of the 10:30 a.m. earthquake on Kilauea volcano to 5.0 magnitude. USGS had initially listed the quake as magnitude 4.2, then 4.7.
The quake was centered about 18 miles south-southwest of Hawaiian Paradise Park and 26.6 miles south of Hilo, at a depth of about 4 miles. It is the strongest tremor so far in a series of hundreds of magnitude 2.5 quakes or greater in the east rift zone of the volcano. Scientists say the quakes and increased magma activity are a sign that a lava outbreak is possible. Residents of lower Puna have been warned to be ready to evacuate and to monitor county and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports on the developing situation.
The USGS “Did you feel it?” website received more than 500 reports from residents throughout Hawaii island.
“It appears that ground shaking from the earthquake caused rockfalls in the Puu Oo crater on Kilauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone, which resulted in a short-lived plume of reddish ash rising above the cone,” said Tina Neal, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge.
The quake was too small to generate a tsunami.
UPDATE: 11:50 a.m.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported that the 10:30 a.m. quake south of Puu Oo caused rockfalls and a possible additional collapse into the crater on Kilauea volcano.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was magnitude 4.7, the largest so far in hundreds of small tremors in the area in recent days. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said ground shaking from the quake south of Puu Oo on the lower east rift zone led to a short-lived plume of ash from the collapse. The plume lofted skyward and is dissipating as it drifts southwest. “Anyone downwind may experience a dusting of ash,” an HVO report said.
The earthquake caused no other changes at Kilauea Volcano, scientists said.
UPDATE: 11:35 a.m.
Hawaii County police said they have reopened Pohoiki Road between Highway 132 and Leilani Avenue, which had been closed due to the emergence of cracks in the roadway. The cracks are believed to have been caused by the seismic activity and magma movement in the lower east rift zone of Kilauea volcano. Police said a metal plate was placed over the damaged pavement.
UPDATE: 11:13 a.m.
A magnitude 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck the south flank of Kilauea Volcano at about 10:30 a.m. today, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tremor was not large enough to cause a tsunami.
The latest quake is the largest in hundreds of magnitude 2.5 and larger tremors over the last few days which scientists say is a possible precursor of a new lava outbreak from Kilauea volcano’s lower east rift zone.
Earlier today, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported that there had been a slight drop in intensity of magma intrusion in the area along the east rift zone.The intrusion is not migrating further to the east, according to spokeswoman Janet Babb.
“There has been some decrease in the seismic deformation but it’s still active,” she said.
Scientists have indicated an eruption is possible but not imminent. Hawaii Civil Defense officials have warned residents in Nanawale Estates, Leilani Estates and Kapoho in lower Puna to remain vigilant.
Crews are using helicopters today to observe the area and are checking seismometers and global positioning system receivers.
Meanwhile, Pohoiki Road remains closed between Highway 132 and Leilani Avenue due to cracks. Officials also reported cracks have formed within Leilani Estates.
No steam was observed emerging from the cracks at this time