Category: lava

Viewers Flock to Watch Glowing Lava Ooze From Hawaii Volcano

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii—The world’s largest volcano oozed rivers of glowing lava Wednesday, drawing thousands of awestruck viewers who jammed a Hawaii highway that could soon be covered by the flow. Mauna Loa awoke from its 38-year slumber Sunday, causing volcanic ash and debris to drift down from the sky. A main highway linking towns on the…


La Palma Volcano’s Underground Vents Are Solidifying as Lava Dries Up

LA PALMA, SPAIN—The underground conduits that feed lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano in Spain’s La Palma island are solidifying, authorities said on Thursday, in a sign that the end of the three-month eruption could be announced by Christmas. If seismic activity and other factors remain unchanged, La Palma authorities have set Dec. 24 as…


Drone Video Shows Extent of La Palma Lava Delta

Aerial footage filmed on Tuesday by geology experts studying the volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma showed the extent of a new lava delta that was created in recent days. The lava flow, which is the third to reach the Atlantic Ocean, first dropped off a cliff and into the sea on Monday….


Coastal Towns Locked Down in La Palma as Lava Crashes Into Ocean

MADRID—Authorities on the Spanish island of La Palma ordered residents of three coastal towns to stay indoors on Monday after a new stream of lava crashed into the ocean, sending thick clouds of potentially toxic gases high into the sky. A third tongue of lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which has been erupting for…


Spanish Volcano More Active, Spews ‘Giant Lava Fountain’

MADRID—A volcano erupting for the past five weeks on the Spanish island of La Palma is more active than ever, officials said Monday, after new lava flows following a partial collapse of the crater threatened to engulf previously unaffected areas. A powerful new river of molten rock gushed out of the Cumbre Vieja volcano early…


Hundreds Evacuated as Red-Hot Lava Threatens Homes in Spain’s La Palma

LA PALMA, Spain—Over 700 residents were ordered to abandon their homes on Tuesday on the Spanish island of La Palma as red-hot lava advanced towards their neighborhood. As the river of molten magma descended from the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the northeast of Canary Island, authorities ordered between 700 and 800 inhabitants of La Laguna…


La Palma’s Volcanic Eruption Is Going Strong 3 Weeks Later

LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Canary Islands—Three weeks since its eruption upended the lives of thousands, the volcano on Spain’s La Palma island is still spewing out endless streams of lava with no signs of ceasing. Authorities on Sunday monitored a new stream of molten rock that has added to the destruction of over 1,100 buildings….


What Kilauea’s History Tells US About Its Future

HONOLULU—Kilauea, one of the most active volcanos on Earth, began erupting on Hawaii’s Big Island Wednesday. The eruption is not in an area with homes and is entirely contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Officials said increased earthquake activity and ground swelling before the eruption put them on high alert. Fissures then opened in the…


3 Erupting Alaska Volcanoes Spitting Lava or Ash Clouds

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—Three remote Alaska volcanoes are in various states of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash. So far, none of the small communities near the volcanoes have been affected, Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said Thursday. Webcams on Thursday clearly showed episodic low-level ash emissions…


Indonesian Volcano Unleashes River of Lava in New Eruption

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia’s most active volcano erupted Wednesday with a river of lava and searing gas clouds flowing 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) down its slopes. No casualties were reported. The sounds of the eruption could be heard 30 kilometers (18 miles) away, officials said. It was Mount Merapi’s biggest lava flow since authorities raised its…