Hawaii: Seismic swarm heralds Kilauea volcano eruption

HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities are preventing Hawaii’s second-largest volcano from erupting again after a brief hiatus.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported on Saturday that a shallow seismic swarm had been detected below Kilauea’s summit. This indicates that “resumption of eruptive activity at Kilauea’s summit is likely imminent,” the USGS warned.

Scientists said Tuesday that lava had stopped flowing after 61 days of volcanic activity, but Kilauea is living up to its reputation as one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It also erupted from September 2021 to last December. A 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed more than 700 homes.

For about two weeks last December, Hawaii’s largest volcano, Mauna Loa, also erupted on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Dual eruptions of Hawaii’s largest volcanoes have temporarily boosted tourism during the low season.

Volcanic eruptions have deep spiritual and cultural significance for Native Hawaiians. When Mauna Loa erupted in November after lying dormant for 38 years, many Hawaiians took part in cultural traditions such as chanting, singing, and dancing in honor of Pele, the deity of volcanoes and fire, and left offerings known as “hookupu”. .