The island of Hawaii is a bit on edge as scientists are tracking increasing activity surrounding one of the tropical land’s volcano. This has led to many fearing that the Moana Loa volcano might actually erupt in the near future.
According to information by the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, reported by the Associated Press, Mauna Loa has been increasing in activity from 2014 to 2017. Based on this rate, it will eventually erupt. But according to lead scientist Tina Neal, we don’t know when it will happen.
“An eruption could be anywhere from months to years away, but we do know that it’s not days or weeks away.”
They’ve charted an increase in earthquakes and ground deformation around the summit of Mauna Loa. Most of them on the mild end (2.0 Richter or below), there are as many as 90 earthquakes a week, Neal claims.
Neal reassures locals that there is no cause for alarm. eruptions can happen any time, even during signs of decreased activity. But with the Kilauea volcano destroying over 700 homes when it erupted last year, people might still be on edge.
But fortunately for locals, technology developments mean that more aircrafts can navigate through volcanic ash. This means more safe evacuations.