The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rattled the Big Island today is the strongest to hit Hawaii since 1975, according to US Geological Survey records.
That year, a magnitude 7.1 quake hit in almost the exact same area as the one that occurred today, according to the USGS.
The Kilauea volcano is the youngest and most active on the island of Hawaii, and has been erupting almost continuously since 1983, according to the US Geological Survey. It's in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a major tourist attraction.
Aerial shots show the Puu Oo volcanic vent southeast of Kilauea's caldera churning smoke after the eruption.
"The summit crater hosts an active lava pond and a vigorous gas plume," the USGS says. "Kīlauea ranks among the world's most active volcanoes and may even top the list."
Kilauea lava flows have threatened communities numerous times. "From 1983, when the Puu Oo eruption began ... residential areas were threatened and homes were lost," said Janet Babb of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
"Any time lava poses a threat to residents, it's a big deal."
There are 770 structures and 1,700 people in the area under mandatory evacuation, said Cindy McMillan, a spokeswoman for Gov. David Ige.
Earthquakes rocked Hawaii's Big Island on Friday as eruptions at the Kilauea volcano continued. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the island nearly an hour after a 5.4-magnitude quake hit.
The 5.4-magnitude quake was felt across the Big Island from Hilo to Kona and as far away as Oahu. It added to an already busy day for the Big Island, which is grappling with five separate eruptions from two fissures on the volcano, CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV reports.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the second quake wasn't strong enough to cause a tsunami, and Hawaii's Department of Transportation said no damage had been reported to roads.
The community of Leilani Estates, near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island, appeared to be in the greatest danger. Authorities also ordered an evacuation of Lanipuna Gardens, a smaller, more rural subdivision directly to the east. But scientists said new vents could form, and it was impossible to know where.
Civil defense officials cautioned the public about high levels of sulfur dioxide near the volcano and urged vulnerable people to leave immediately. Exposure to the gas can cause irritation or burns, sore throats, runny noses, burning eyes and coughing.
Volcano expert Paul Davis said the gas occurs during the melting process. "It's sort of like you've injected ammonia into all your nose, into your breathing area, into your throat," Davis told CBS News.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, but at least 100 people were staying in shelters Friday, with many more evacuees believed to be with relatives and friends.
Julie Woolsey lives on a street where a vent opened up and channeled lava to within 1,000 yards of her house. When it appeared, she freed her chickens, loaded her dogs into her truck and evacuated with her daughter and grandson.
"We knew we were building on an active volcano," she told the Associated Press, recalling how she purchased the lot for $35,000 more than a decade ago. But she thought the danger from lava was a remote possibility.
"You can't really predict what Pele is going to do," she said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. "It's hard to keep up. We're hoping our house doesn't burn down."
A very MAJOR earthquake has just struck the big island of Hawaii. The magnitude 6.9 quake struck at 6:32 PM eastern US time at an extremely shallow depth of 5km. The quake was widely felt and severe . . . . catastrophic . . . damage has taken place over almost ALL of the big island of Hawaii.
This is a MAJOR DISASTER and comes as the Kilauea Volcano continues a MAJOR eruption on that same island. Large portions of Hawaii have been severely damaged by this earthquake. Deaths, injuries and collapsed structures are expected.
This is a developing story . . . Updates to follow below . . .
Tsunami Warning Buoys in the Pacific Ocean are in "ALERT" Mode. Possible Tsunami from this massive, shallow earthquake.
Here are the data buoy charts showing the water depth change in the seconds before, during and after the quake:
These Buoys, operated by the US National Data Buoy Center, can be viewed HERE
A fissure nearly 500 feet long opened up in the Leilani Estates neighborhood in Hawaii Thursday evening, spewing lava into the air for around two hours.
The lava didn't engulf any homes but prompted some evacuations. The molten rock only traveled around a few yards from the large crack, according to the U.S. Geologic Survey.
This volcanic behavior, while exciting, is normal for the Big Island's Kilauea volcano, which is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. It's been flowing continuously since the 1980s, though not always invading communities.
"This is a very active volcano," Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University's Department of Physical Sciences, said in an interview. "This is constantly happening."
The eruption began at around 4:45 p.m. in Hawaii, and a second fissure may have opened up in the middle of the night. But it's unknown what will happen next.
"It's impossible to say exactly where or when it will erupt now," said Krippner. "There are different pathways the lava can take to get to the surface."
Residents, however, had good forewarning of a potential eruption. Local volcanologists had been measuring increased earthquake activity in the region, a sign that molten rock was swelling beneath the ground. Locals found cracks in roads, and last week lava overflowed from the giant lava pit in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Lava can be seen spewing from a vent in Hawaii's Leilani Estates community on the Big Island after eruption of Kilauea volcano. https://t.co/DdDqlKmyV2
The county has ordered evacuations for all of Leilani Estates, which according to the last Census has a population of 1,500. pic.twitter.com/v8O2poQGPe
The county has ordered evacuations for all of Leilani Estates, which according to the last Census has a population of 1,500. pic.twitter.com/v8O2poQGPe
But Hawaiian volcanoes, known as shield volcanoes, are the type that form land — not destroy it. The magma is considerably less thick than the magma brewing beneath explosive volcanoes, like Mount St. Helens or the infamous Mount Vesuvius. These explosive volcanoes trap heat and pressure, sometimes resulting in powerful, deadly bursts. Conversely, Hawaiian volcanoes, when active, flow constantly, cool, and form land.
In fact, 90 percent of the rock surface on Kilauea is less than 1,000 years old, said Krippner, referencing how new lava flows are consistently covering the land. The volcano is in a building phase, and we happen to be building on top of it.
Although Hawaiian volcanoes rarely have large, explosive events, they certainly do produce some hazards — though they're rarely life-threatening.
"This is one of the less dangerous types of eruptions," said Krippner. "With these lava flows you can escape relatively easily."
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