Hawaii was placed on red alert for airplanes flying over the area on Tuesday after Kilauea sent plumes of ash and volcanic smog in the shape of a cloud 12,000 feet up into the air. The warning from the state of Hawaii comes amid fears that a major eruption from the volcano is either underway or possible in the coming days.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that the ash carried as far as 18 miles from the eruption site, and authorities have warned both residents and tourists on the island that the volcano could continue to be hazardously active in the coming days. “At any time, activity may become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent,” said the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in a statement. An “unhealthy air” advisory was also put in place for the residents of the area surrounding the volcano.
