At the mercy of the goddess of fire: Huge new 1,000ft fissure opens up in Hawaii amid fears of an ‘explosive’ eruption – as 18 lava flows consume island community and locals blame almighty ‘Pele’

Monday, May 14, 2018
By Paul Martin

Massive new fissure opened on Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, hurling bursts of rock and magma into the air
The fissure was the 17th to open on the volcano in Hawaii’s Big Island since it began erupting on May 3
An 18th fissure was reported near Hale Kamahina Loop Road along Highway 132 early Sunday morning
More than 2,000 people have evacuated area, while 27 homes have been destroyed by Kilauea’s eruption
Video released on Saturday by the US Geological Survey shows footage of the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō crater of Kīlauea
The crater’s floor collapsed on April 30 after magma drained to the east along the east rift zone
President Donald Trump issued a presidential disaster declaration for Hawaii’s Big Island Friday
Estimated cost to protect residents over the next 30 days is expected to exceed $2.9million, officials said

By ARIEL ZILBER and VALERIE EDWARDS
DAILYMAIL.COM
14 May 2018

A massive 1,000ft-long new fissure opened on Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano yesterday, hurling bursts of rock and magma into the air with an ear-piercing screech, as residents wait for a possible ‘explosive eruption’ at its summit.

Just hours later, another fissure opened – the 18th since May 3 – while scientists report that seismic activity remain ‘elevated’ at Kilauea’s 4,000-feet-high summit.

Dozens of homes have been destroyed and more than 2,000 people forced to evacuate, but for many Hawaiians, the rivers of lava are a fact of life living at the mercy of the unstoppable Fire Goddess – Pele.

Pele is the goddess of fire and volcanoes and is the creator of the Islands of Hawaii in the local mythology. She is one of the most revered deities, often referred to as ‘Madame Pele’ or ‘Tutu Pele’ as a sign of respect.

‘It’s the idea of Pele herself giving us new land,’ says Kalei Nu’uhiwa, a researcher at the Edith Kanaka’ole Foundation – an indigenous Hawaiian culture organisation, told Star Advertiser.

‘That’s her function and sometimes it’s not done in a nice form. Sometimes it’s destructive and it destroys things. In the end, we benefit from it all.’

However, for some who have been forced to see their homes destroyed by Tutu Pele’s rivers of lava, it may be tough to see the benefits.

Closer to the summit, in the evacuated Leilani Estates neighborhood of about 1,500 people, explosions could be heard in the distance as steam rose from cracks in the roads.

‘It is a near-constant roar akin to a full-throttle 747 interspersed with deafening, earth-shattering explosions that hurtle 100-pound lava bombs 100 feet into the air,’ said Mark Clawson, 64, who lives uphill from the 17th fissure and so far is defying an evacuation order.

The Rest…HERE

Leave a Reply

Join the revolution in 2018. Revolution Radio is 100% volunteer ran. Any contributions are greatly appreciated. God bless!

Follow us on Twitter