Explosion sends lava through the roof of a passenger boat, 22 wounded

Tour boat hit by a lava blast (July 16, 2018) Photo: DLNR

At least 22 people on a tour boat were injured this morning after an explosion sent lava through the roof of the cabin. Firefighters say three people were transported by doctors with serious injuries, nine went to Hilo Medical Center by personal vehicle and 10 were treated at the scene for minor soft tissue injuries, scrapes and burns.

According to the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources of the State, the boat arrived off the Pohoiki Lava entry site about 500 meters off the coast, and then went off. is close up to about 200 meters off the coast. The ship reportedly sailed when the explosion occurred near the shore, "throwing warm lava stones" towards the boat and injuring several passengers.

The crews of the Hawai'i Fire and Police Services and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources met the "Hot Spot Lava Tour Boat" When he docked. Medical units of the fire department triage all passengers.

Suzanne Case, President of DLNR, said: "DLNR sends its vows of speedy recovery to all involved."

Investigate the incident. The safety zone is currently 300 meters (984 feet or 328 yards) without any exclusion.

At approximately 6:00 am, Honolulu area security guards received an initial 911 report indicating that three crew members and three tourists had been injured during an incident near a police station. lava flow in Kapoho Bay

pending emergency medical services were waiting to receive the wounded. Upon arrival in Hilo, this number was revised to at least a dozen injured people requiring treatment at the area's hospital.

In response to the increase in lava activity in the region, the Coast Guard has established a temporary security zone. was made permanent in May 2018 as a result of a regulatory project notice. The area was established with contributions and extensive expert consultations from the Hawai'i Volcano Observatory, the US Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. and from the University of Hawaii to the Department of Marine Sciences of Hilo

. s' extends over 300 meters, although some commercial and research vessels with licensed captains demonstrating their experience in the area and carrying all the required safety equipment were allowed to approach up to 50 meters (164 feet or 54 yards). It is known that excursion vessels operate the region going back at least 20 years.

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At least ten people on a ship lava ship were injured this morning after an explosion on the roof of the cabin passengers of the boat. Other reports indicate that up to 12 passengers were injured. Officers from the DLNR Conservation and Enforcement Division and the Hawaii County Police Department are investigating the incident.

Excursions depart from Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo at 4am. Before the start of the eruption event of the East Rift Zone, towers left the Pohoiki ramp, which is now less than ½ mile from the active entrance to the ocean.

DOCARE agents are interrogating Center. At the first report, passengers stated that the ship was outside the US Coast Guard's established security zone. With first responders, state and county officers were at the Wailoa ramp when the boat came back after the incident. It is reported that a passenger has a broken leg and that others have been burned, although the extent of their injuries is not known at the moment. More information will be published as soon as it will be available

* Video below: Courtesy of Ikaika Marzo's Facebook page