USGS Volcanoes shared photos of the lava flow during the eruption from a Civil Air Patrol flight.
USGS Volcanoes
Photos and videos of the eruption of Mauna Loa began to spread on social networks.
Some photos taken soon after the volcano erupted at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 27, show an eerie red glow on the horizon as the lava bounces off the atmosphere and plumes of ash and fire-tinged smoke erupt from the summit. A hazy glow was still visible as the sun began to rise over the island.
And despite the potentially destructive properties of the eruption, some remarked on how beautiful the view was. Lots of generic photos taken from backyards, businesses and coastal areas.
“Mauna Loa erupting at sunrise is literally the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” one Twitter user wrote in a post that also shared the photos. The user said he woke up to the volcano erupting and also shared a video of the eruption and wrote: “A video of the awesome power of nature.”
Another user shared a photo of the view from the sea wall in Kona.
“This is an amazing sight, in my 40+ years on the big island I have never seen an eruption so close to Kona,” they wrote.
Another user posted a video of volcanic ash spewing into the sky in the distance.
“She woke up!” another user wrote. “A view of Mauna Loa erupting from Saddle Road this morning”.
The Hawaii Pacific Parks Association tweeted that it was an “amazing time to be on the island of Hawaii.”
By morning, the eerie red glow had almost disappeared, giving way to clouds of white ash and smoke.
The US Geological Survey shared photos of the lava flow during the eruption from a Civil Air Patrol flight. The photos showed a streak of glowing lava creeping down the slope to the north, the US Geological Survey’s volcano division said.
The eruption began at Mokuaveoveo, the volcano’s 13,100-foot caldera summit, around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
The observatory initially said the lava flows were contained within the caldera, but some Kona residents reported lava flowing from the mountain, HawaiiNewsNow reported.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has told residents and visitors to watch for ash, gas and Pele’s hair which can be carried by the wind from the volcano, according to McClatchy News.
