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HONOLULU (AP) – Hawaii cruise ship operators plan to continue taking visitors to see the lava, but will follow the Coast Guard's revised policy and stay further after an explosion caused the melting of a molten rock.
The Coast Guard prohibits ships from approaching within 300 meters of the Kilauea volcano's lava source. The agency had allowed experienced boat operators to apply for a special license to get closer to 50 meters, but she stopped allowing these exceptions Monday morning.
A woman in her twenties years was transported to Honolulu in a serious condition with a broken bone in her thigh. The remaining 22 wounded were treated for minor burns and scrapes, 12 of which were treated at a hospital in Hilo.
Moku Nui Lava Tours Captain Kanoa Jones, whose boat was not involved in Monday's incident at Kilauea Volcano, said "If we stop working, that does not make us to hurt, it hurts the community, "he said.
Coast Guard spokesman Matthew West said the agency could not say whether it would change its safety zone rules before the end of its investigation. To lava on land for safety reasons, make boat and helicopter trips the only options that people have to attend a volcanic show in person. The ocean and air travel each cost about $ 250
Restrictions have dissuaded many travelers from visiting the Big Island in general, and Puna near the volcano in particular.
Shane Turpin, the owner and captain of the ship that was struck, says that he has never seen the explosion.
He and his tour group were in the area for about 20 minutes making ocean passes about 500 yards – which corresponds to the length of five football fields – Turpin.
He did not observe "major explosions," so he sailed near his ship, about 250 yards (228 meters) from the lava
"As we were coming out of the area, suddenly all around us exploded, "he said. "He was everywhere."
The US Geological Survey reports that explosions of different sizes occur each time the 2000 degree lava (1,093 degrees Celsius) penetrates into seawater.
At the point where lava has entered In contrast, the lava that entered the ocean in 2016 reached a steep slope and quickly fell into deeper parts of the sea, said Janet Babb, geologist at the US Geological. Survey.
The volcano also pumped more lava into the water now compared to years past, Babb said. Kilauea sends to the sea up to 26 times more lava per second than during the eruption from 2016 to 2017.
Authorities warned of the danger of getting closer to the lava entering the region. Ocean, saying that the interaction can create Acid Clouds and Fine Glass. Despite the dangers, several companies organize such excursions. The Coast Guard said the tour ships have been operating in the area for at least 20 years.
The molten rock comes from the Kilauea volcano, which has erupted continuously for 35 years. In May, its eruption entered a new phase when it began to lava through newly formed cracks in a residential area. He has destroyed more than 700 houses since then. But the only serious injury in the last two months was a man who was hit by a lava that broke his leg.
Captain Jones said that a boat trip was planned for the oceanic entry site. 19659002] "It's Mother Nature," Jones said. "You never know."
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