Madison Meeks – Opinion Editor

mvm7037@psu.edu

Mauna Loa has been showing signs of erupting since September 2022. The Hawaiian volcano officially erupted on Sunday, November 27, 2022. The sky of the area in Hawaii where the volcano erupted was glowing red on Sunday night which signaled the eruption of the volcano. 

Mauna Loa is the world’s largest active volcano. The volcano is located on the largest island of Hawaii. Mauna Loa is erupting for the first time in over four decades.

According to NPR, “the federal agency designated the volcano alert level as ‘warning’ meaning, “hazardous eruption is imminent, underway or suspected”. Even though the federal agency stated that the volcano alert was a “warning” as of Monday, November 28, there has been no call for evacuation. 

The Mayor of Hawaii County, Mitch Roth, has stated that the eruption does not appear to be threatening any of the communities downslope of the volcano. As a precaution, the Hawaiian government has opened shelters for those who find it necessary to evacuate at the Old Kona Airport in Kailua-Kona as well as Ka’u gym in Pahala.

The volcano is reportedly taller than Mount Everest. NPR has also stated that “The volcano’s earliest lava flows can be traced back to between 600, 000 and a million years ago. Scientists estimate that the Mauna Loa likely emerged above sea level about 300,000 years ago and has been rapidly growing ever since.”

Mauna Loa has erupted almost 33 times since 1843 when volcano eruptions were first reported for records. The last eruption of Mauna Loa was in 1984 and lasted about three weeks. There is no telling how long the eruption will last this time. 

As of Monday, November 28, the lava from the volcano seems to be contained and has been not showing signs that it will exit the volcano. “Mauna Loa also tends to erupt lava at a very high rate, which can be particularly dangerous when it descends the volcano’s steep slopes. It can produce ‘fast moving and long traveled lava flows’ which requires a ‘quick response’, the U.S. Geological Survey said” as stated by NPR. 

As of Thursday, December 1, the lava from the volcano has started to descend the slope of the volcano and might reach a highway that connects the west side and east side of Hawaii, reported CBS News. The lava from the volcano could reach the highway in a matter of days. 

CBS News has stated that “although the flow is slow-moving, it is still persistent, and emergency managers are ramping up their planning as it threatens to cross over the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as the DKI Highway or Saddle Road.’’ Even though the lava has started to descend the slope of the volcano no emergency evacuation has been put in place. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has stated that there is “still no immediate threat to populated areas.” 

Meanwhile, another volcano in Hawaii is erupting as well. Kilauea is also erupting, which according to CBS News, the two volcanoes erupting is “marking the first time the Big Island has seen dual eruptions in decades.” People in the vicinity of the two volcanoes must be aware, and stay alert for an emergency evacuation warning if one is put in place.