On Thursday, May 3, 2018, at around 12:45, nearly 2,000 Hawaiians were evacuated from homes after volcano Kilauea erupted. Lava and toxic gases continued to spew in neighborhoods and at least 26 homes had been destroyed as a result of the eruption. Authorities ordered additional evacuations of 1,800 people. Lava has been spewing more than 200 feet in the air and lava flow traveled half a mile. Some of the more than 1,700 people who evacuated prepared for the possibility they may not return for quite some time. 

Kilauea is a shield volcano known to erupt flows of basaltic lava across its slopes. It is the youngest and most active Hawaiian shield volcano and is located on the southern parts of the Island of Hawaii. Hawaii County civil defense officials say ten fissures have opened since Thursday. Fissures began spewing out steam and lava. A new fissure opened on Sunday night in the Leilani Estates area, some 12 miles from the volcano. The area also has been affected by extremely high levels of sulfur gas, and by several earthquakes, including one that hit on Friday, at a magnitude of 6.9. Wendy Stovall, a volcanologist with the US Geological Survey (USGS), says “The people that are choosing to stay there are really putting themselves at risk from the sulfur dioxide. It’s at lethal concentration.” Breathing large amounts of this toxic sulfur gas can result in burning of the nose and throat and breathing difficulties. Thus far, no major injuries have been reported from the volcano, according to the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.