Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted Thursday, causing lava to spew out of ground fissures in residential areas and prompting mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of people.
US Geological Survey authorities of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory unit were both on the ground and headed into the air to assess the eruption, which followed dozens of earthquakes in recent days and began around 4:45 pm local time, according to the agency.
Local news footage showed streams of lava snaking through a forest, while the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency reported "steam and lava emissions from a crack in Leilani Subdivision in the area of Mohala Street," following the blast, mandating all residents to leave the affected area.
At 10:30 am a 5.0 magnitude earthquake south of the Puu Oo volcano cone triggered rockfalls and potential collapse into a crater on the volcano, according to USGS.
"A short-lived plume of ash produced by this event lofted skyward and is continuing to dissipate as it drifts southwest from Puu Oo," an advisory from the agency said, warning that "anyone downwind may experience a dusting of ash."
The giant pink-hued plume was seen rising above the zone, with authorities warning of subsequent "lava inundation," fire, smoke, and additional earthquakes.
Hazards also included "potentially lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide gas" in the zone as well as methane blasts that could propel large rocks and debris in adjacent areas.
Governor David Ige had activated the archipelago state's National Guard troops, and told residents via Twitter to pay heed to warnings from the Civil Defense Agency.
Most of Kilauea's activity has been nonexplosive, but a 1924 eruption spewed ash and 9-metric ton rocks into the sky, leaving one man dead.
Puu Oo's 1983 eruption resulted in lava fountains. In the decades since, the lava flow has buried dozens of square kilometers of land and destroyed many homes.
