15 Devastating Photos From Hawaii’s Disastrous Volcano Eruption

Big Island residents are still in grave danger.

The Kiluaea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island erupted last week, destroying homes and displacing thousands.

All 1,700 residents of the nearby Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens were ordered to evacuate as lava and hazardous sulfur dioxide fumes engulfed the area. 

CNN has further details: 

Cracks emerged in the volcano’s East Rift Zone — an area of fissures miles away from the volcano’s summit.  

The Hawaii Civil Defense said 35 structures — including at least 26 homes — had been destroyed and a total of 12 fissures have formed.  

After an initial 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the day after the eruption, seismic events have plagued Big Island at an average frequency of one per hour.

“It’s nothing that I’ve ever experienced on a personal level ever before,” Jessica Ferracane, spokesperson for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, told CNN. “The earthquakes continued through the night.” 

The American Red Cross of Hawaii, which is operating two shelters for evacuees, is accepting donations online and via mail or phone. 

See photos of the devastation in the gallery above and shocking video of the scene below:  

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