A magnitude
6.9 earthquake shook Hawaii's Big Island on Friday, prompting fresh eruptions
of a volcano that has been spewing lava near residential areas, forcing
hundreds of people to flee.
The US
Geological Survey said the quake struck at 12:32 pm (2232 GMT) and was centered
on the south flank of the Kilauea volcano, which first erupted on Thursday
after a series of tremors.
"This
is in almost exactly the same location as the deadly 1975 M 7.1 quake,"
USGC said in a tweet.
That quake
killed two people and injured 28.
Another 5.7-magnitude
tremor had hit the island earlier on Friday and authorities said they expect
more seismic activity.
The quakes
have prompted the Kilauea volcano, one of five active on the island, to erupt.
Drone and
video footage showed orange magma gushing up from cracks in the ground and
snaking through a wooded area.
Molten lava
could also be seen bubbling up through cracks on streets in the Leilani Estates
and Lanipuna Gardens neighborhood where residents were ordered to evacuate on
Thursday.
The area is
home to about 1,700 people and 770 structures. The broader district potentially
impacted by the threat is home to some 10,000 people.
No injuries
have been reported but several homes were said to have been destroyed or badly
damaged on Friday, authorities said.
- Dangerous
gas warning -
Officials
urged any remaining residents to evacuate and warned of extremely high levels
of toxic fumes.
"Hawaii
Fire Department reports extremely dangerous air quality conditions due to high
levels of sulfur dioxide gas in the evacuation area," the Hawaii County
Civil Defense Agency said.
"Elderly,
young and people with respiratory issues need to comply with the mandatory
evacuation order and leave the area," said a statement from the mayor's
office.
Governor
David Ige said residents were being housed in community centers until the
danger from Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has passed.
The lava
outbreak came after hundreds of small earthquakes in recent days that followed
the collapse of a crater floor on the Puu Oo volcanic cone.
A
5.0-magnitude earthquake early Thursday south of the cone triggered rockfalls
and potential additional collapse of the crater, USGS said.
It sent a
short-lived but massive pink plume of ash wafting into the air.
Big Island
resident Janice Wei, who moved to Hawaii from California -- known for its own
high earthquake risk -- said the eruption was almost a "relief."
"We've
been waiting for big movement from the crater, after so many small
earthquakes," she told AFP.
"Hawaiians
and local people have lived here forever," she said. "You know what's
going on; we have warning systems.
"Everybody
should be prepared."
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