Kilauea Volcano Update: USGS Maps, Photos Show How Lava Coverage Has Expanded
http://www.newsweek.com/hawaii-kilauea-volcano-toxic-gas-pollutes-air-981360
A volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island that has spewed lava, forcing thousands of residents to flee and destroying hundreds of homes over the past month, is still gushing a river of lava into the ocean. Now government officials are warning islanders to take cover from the still-exploding ash and toxic gas that is polluting the island’s air.
Exposure to the volcanic dust is a health hazard since it can often contain bits of glass that can damage the lungs and irritate the eyes and skin. This morning, the volcano puffed out another plume of dark smog. Warnings have already been issued asking people to take cover, close their car windows and stay indoors as the volcano continues to sputter ash into the atmosphere. The volcanic dust can also obscure the vision of drivers and coat the roads in slippery ash, potentially causing accidents, United States Civil Defense Department reports.