Loading ...About 4 hours ago we had a 5.0 magnitude earthquake below Pu’u O’o vent. The summit lava lake at Halemaumau crater was previously not affected by the past days activity… has now dropped 100 feet down into the hole and summit tilt meters now indicate the summit is deflating. Magma appears to be moving underground down the east rift zone. Leilani Estates (on the top of the rift… stupid place to be) and downslope Opihikao appear at greatest risk among the quake swarms in the area.
The 5.0 quake dropped some rocks into Pu’u O’o and produced an ash plume that freaked everyone out… but no eruption. When this crater opened in 1983 we had 1500 ft fountains of lava spray. It happened every month during the full moon (tides) for six consecutive months! But the ‘scientists’ said there was no relation…. go figure.
Anyway, with all the geologic movement here, this could generate a spectacular eruption.