LAVA has breached the vital geothermal power plant responsible for providing the Big Island with a quarter of its electricity, causing fears to skyrocket as a series of natural disasters continue to plague Hawaii.
The magma reached the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) last night and was within 200 yards of production wells that have been plugged in a desperate effort to save them from Mount Kilauea.
David Mace, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said: “I think it’s safe to say authorities have been concerned about the flow of lava onto the plant property since the eruption started.”
Mike Kaleikini, a spokesman for the plant insisted lava was dangerously close to the wells but said so far dangerous hydrogen sulphide has not been released.
He explained: “As long as conditions are safe, we will have personnel on site.
“Primary concern is sulphur dioxide from the eruption and lava coming on site.
“We monitor for hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide on a continuous basis.”
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s Steve Brantley declared the lava initially appeared to have been diverting from the facility.
However, it appears the PGV will not be spared as the Kilauea volcano continues its rampage across the island.
As part of a last gasp attempt to prepare for the horrifying natural disasters, officials moved away 50,000 gallons of potentially toxic gas from the power plant.
The PGV is located near the southeast flank of Mount Kilauea.
The community of Hawaii has been particularly concerned about the state of the power plant since natural disasters begun to ravage Hawaii on May 3.
Although potentially toxic gases have been removed from the facility, it is unknown how they would react to the frightening heat of magma.
David Ige, the governor of Hawaii, previously stated 10 of the wells on the site had been “quenched” by cooling them with water as part of an effort to fight back against volcanic steam.
He added the eleventh well on the site has been plugged with mud after water failed to lower its temperature by a great enough extent.
An old warehouse near the PGV has already been destroyed, according to Hawaii’s Civil Defence.
It continued: “Fissures near Puna Geothermal Venture are active and producing lava slowly flowing onto the property.
“This activity has destroyed the former Hawaii Geothermal Project site.”
The power plant was closed down after the active volcano on the Big Island started plaguing residents.
- Hundreds of earthquakes struck near the summit of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on Saturday, officials say
- Yesterday's volcanic activity sent ash clouds up to 14,764 feet into the atmosphere
- It has sparked concerns that dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas and ash could combine with moisture and dust in the air to cause volcanic smog, or 'vog'
- Volcano-related earthquakes have caused cracks to open up across the Big Island's southeastern region
- Geologists have said after three weeks of escalating activity, Kilauea has entered a 'steady state' of eruption
Hawaii has been struck with 270 earthquakes in just one day as the Kilauea volcano continues to billow toxic ash and spout lava across the island.
More than three weeks after the eruptions first began, Mount Kilauea is showing no signs of stopping.
Photos of the island show a landscape devastated by red hot lava flows and burning trees and shrubbery.
Yesterday's volcanic activity sent ash clouds up to 14,764 feet into the atmosphere, sparking concerns that dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas and ash could combine with moisture and dust in the air to cause volcanic smog, or 'vog.'
The vog carries tiny drops of sulfuric acid which cause respiratory problems, even triggering asthma attacks in sufferers, and cause damage to the lungs.
Winds are set to shift early next week, which could push higher concentrations of vog northwest where it could affect more populated areas, Bravender said.
U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard are on standby to evacuate for coastal residents
Meanwhile, lava streams have spread more than 5,400 acres destroying 82 homes in the process.
Hundreds of earthquakes shook the island in just 24 hours on Saturday
Roads have been cut off, an estimated 2,000 residents have been evacuated by road and by air, and as the lava continues to spill, some of it hitting the ocean, the air is becoming more toxic to breathe.
As the area heads into the fourth week of eruptions,another 2,000 people living in coastal communities may be forced to flee as lava flows threaten to cut off their escape routes.
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