Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the most active volcano on Earth, erupted for the first time in nearly four decades, prompting local officials to issue ash-fall advisories and open emergency shelters.
The volcano began erupting around 11:30 p.m. local time Sunday, blanketing the sky with ash. Officials have not issued evacuation orders and air traffic remains unaffected. So far, the lava is contained near the summit, though officials warned that may change.
Mauna Loa, rising 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) above sea-level, is the largest of five volcanoes that make up Hawaii’s Big Island. It has erupted 33 times since 1843, most recently in 1984. The nearby Kilauea volcano spewed ash 30,000 feet into the air in a 2018 eruption, limiting air traffic and prompting evacuations.
