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A piece of molten rock the size of a basketball balloon, known as a lava bomb, crashed Monday on a tourist boat off the coast. Hawaii, injuring 23 people who were there to observe the lava flow. The ship was sailing near a lava flow around 6 am in Kapoho Bay, on the east coast of the island, when molten lava was spilled onto the metal roof of the island. ship, leaving a gaping hole. 19659002] After the return of the boat ashore, 13 people were transported to the hospital and 10 wounded persons were treated on the spot. A pbadenger, a 20-year-old woman, was seriously injured in one leg, the statement said.
The source of lava was Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, which has attracted tourists in recent months. The Coast Guard has opened an investigation into what happened and will try to determine if the tourist boat was in a restricted area when the lava hit, said Matthew West, a spokesman for the service.
After the episode, all ships were prevented from moving within 300 meters, about 300 meters, of the lava that flowed into the Pacific Ocean, indicated the Coast Guard in a statement Monday. Previously, tourist boats with experienced professional captains could get permission to operate at 50 meters or more from the lava, but they will no longer be able to do so, said Mr. West.
The boat's captain, Shane Turpin, said that he was well outside the area at the time of the blast, Reuters reported Tuesday. Mr. Turpin did not respond to a request for comment
A video of an explosion that was captured by another lava ship at the time the boat was hit shows a huge plume of smoke black and red lava on the surface of the water.
Kilauea volcano erupted from its summit earlier this year after days of small earthquakes. The lava flow destroyed dozens of homes and other buildings, and the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency urged tourists to avoid the area in May.
The volcano was active Monday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The company that operated the boat, Lava Ocean Tours, is based in Hilo, Hawaii, and presents itself as an "exciting way to experience hot melt lava entering the sea." According to the company's website, each explosion of the lava mine can accommodate up to 49 pbadengers, and each visit costs between $ 225 and $ 250.
The explosion can be explained by the contact of the molten rock with the water of the oceans. According to Einat Lev, an expert in volcanology and an badistant professor at Columbia University, the water boils quickly, sending plumes of steam. When the gas expands, it triggers the explosion
This interaction causes a "plume of corrosive sea water" loaded with hydrochloric acid and volcanic particles, which can irritate the eyes, the skin and lungs, according to the Geological Survey. Dr. Lev said the Kilauea volcano has had an "ocean inlet", or a place where lava comes in contact with water, since the 1980s, attracting tourists who are willing to accept certain risks to see the show.
trying to look at this entrance to the ocean for many years, "she said. "It flows a little faster, so they could have been a little too close."
The Department of Lands and Natural Resources of Hawaii also studies the episode.
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