Golfers Keep On Playing While Massive Volcano Erupts Behind Them
Play through or die trying.
Golf is a game pretty much anyone can play, which is why some people are basically addicted to it. So much so they’ll hit the green even as the damn apocalypse is unfolding nearby.
Hawaii’s Mt. Kilauea is in the middle of one of its largest eruptions in years. Lava flows have destroyed entire neighborhoods. Recently it’s been blowing massive clouds of ash and venting poisonous gas. But yeah, golf is golf.
The absurdity of the visual here makes it easy to joke, but Kilauea is no joke. As CBS reports, the giant volcano is spitting fire, turning the sky red, and the gas coming from the caldera is even more serious:
Some of the vents formed by the Kilauea volcano are now releasing extremely high levels of sulfur dioxide, which is very toxic and potentially life threatening.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a “red warning” for pilots to stay away from flying in the region — something that has been urged since the beginning of volcanic activity.
Social media users are freaking out over footage from the Big Island. Who wouldn’t? Especially when some images are a completely different kind of freaky from those depicting the nonchalant golfers.
A smiling Volcano! It's the Kilauea of Hawaii pic.twitter.com/E82v2xNCWW
— 🌍Travel Destinations🏝 (@WorldTourisms) May 13, 2018
The Milky Way over Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. Breathtaking. #KilaueaVolcano #KilaueaErupts pic.twitter.com/HIdnvEVB0h
— Gregory Williamson™ (@salescounselor) May 14, 2018
Summary of #HVO #Kilauea VAN/VONA: Ash eruption at summit has increased in intensity. NWS radar & pilot reports show top of the ash cloud is as high as 10,000-12,000 feet above sea level. Ashfall and vog has been reported in Pahala (18 mi downwind). #KilaueaErupts pic.twitter.com/ChzRdu0Ch7
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) May 15, 2018
Huge Kilauea ash cloud is seen by golfers on the course at the nearby Volcano Golf Club as officials warn of "continuous explosive activity." https://t.co/1MJytqu0Ej pic.twitter.com/8sMMnbEyx9
— ABC News (@ABC) May 16, 2018
Questions about related disasters have come up, and they are absolutely spine-chilling.
Like, could a portion of the volcano collapse and cause an epic tsunami that spans the entire West Coast?
According to @USGS, there is no geologic evidence for past catastrophic collapses of Kilauea Volcano that would lead to a major Pacific tsunami and is extremely unlikely to occur in the future based on monitoring of surface deformation. https://t.co/i2Gs1A4KYS
— California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (@Cal_OES) May 16, 2018
That anyone even needed such reassurance is somehow not that reassuring.
At the moment, however, news regarding Kilauea’s status isn’t good, but it’s no 2012-like disaster. Hawaiians need to stay in, especially if they have respiratory issues, and wear masks if they go outside.
Just another day in paradise.
h/t Brobible
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