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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Hawaii Volcano Emits New Ash Plume

A volcanic ash cloud hovers in the distance over the small town of Pahala during the eruption of the Kilauea Volcano in Pahala, Hawaii, U.S., May 23, 2018. REUTERS/Marco Garcia

The Kilauea Volcano emitted clouds of ash in Hawaii’s Big Island sky more than one time on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, civil defense authorities said pressurized geothermal wells at a nearby power plant had been protected from approaching lava, Reuters reported.

The earlier ash plume rose to a height of 2,438 meters, while the later one reached about 1,524 meters, authorities said.

“The ash has just been nonstop every day since the summit has been erupting,” said Tiahti Fernandez, who lives tiny farming village of Pahala, 26 miles (42 km) southwest of the summit crater.

“Every day we have to wash our cars and wash down the patio because the ash just covers everything,” she added.

Emissions of sulfur dioxide gas, harmful if inhaled, also remained at high levels from newly opened lava-spewing fissures in the ground running through populated areas on the eastern flank of the volcano, authorities said.

The volcano produces methane when hot lava buries and burns plants and trees, AP reported. The gas flows through the ground and up through existing cracks.

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