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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-05 Lava Flow at Fissure 8 Greatly Diminshed, Summit of Halema'uma'u is Quiet -- press release Wil Okabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 August 5, 2018 NEWS RELEASE Lava Flow from Fissure 8 in Lower East Rift Zone is Greatly Diminished According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the flow from Fissure 8 in the Lower East Rift Zone has diminished dramatically, with not much magma. Meanwhile, the summit of Halema’uma’u is very quiet, and has slowed deflating, with few if any felt quakes. The last collapse event at the summit was noon on Thursday. Please be aware that the hazards associated with the eruption that began May 3 remain; there is still active lava in the channel going into the ocean. There was also a significant increase in gas emissions from Pu’u ‘O’o on Friday. “It could be weeks or months before we feel comfortable calling the eruption and the summit collapse over, said Tina Neal, the scientist-in-charge at HVO. She noted that it is typical for eruptions to wax and wane. Neal suggested that people read reports on hazard assessments on the HVO website, specifically regarding when and how eruptions end, at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/file_mngr/file-184/Summit%20scenarios_7-5-18.pdf Meanwhile, work on an emergency bypass road adjacent to Highway 11 in Volcano is ongoing. The tremors at the Halema’uma’u summit have destabilized Highway 11, the only artery connecting Ka’u to the rest of the island. The County is cooperating with Federal and State agencies on the construction of the two-mile bypass. There is no precise time frame on when the bypass road will be completed, but the County recognizes the urgency of the situation as the new school year starts this week. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.