After 2 days of earthquakes and cracks indicating magma was moving down the Lower East Rift Zone, the first fissure opened in Leilani Estates at about 5PM HST, Thursday, May 3, 2018.
Big Island News posted a 10PM video update with video footage accompanying a May 3 civil defense advisory:
Leilani Estates is about 11 miles downrift from Pu’u O’o, in the Puna District.
Maps, Videos (including drone video), INFO…
- Drone video of erupting fissure posted on Facebook by Jeremiah Osuna went viral. Shortly after this, FAA banned drones in area to protect emergency services.
- Map: USGS May 4, 8AM Map shows locations of first 3 fissures in Leilani Estates. (To find up to date maps of fissures, see HVO Current Maps or Search Form).
- USGS Video Flyover of fissure, active from 5 to 6:30PM.
- Article: May 5-6 Hawaii News Now news report on “A look at what led up to the Kilauea eruptions on the Big Island” with video.
From HVO Photo/Video Blog May 3:
An eruption has commenced in the Leilani Estates subdivision in the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano. White, hot vapor and blue fume emanated from an area of cracking in the eastern part of the subdivision. Spatter began erupting shortly before 5:00 p.m. HST. Lava was confirmed at the surface in the eastern end of the subdivision, in the areas of Mohala and Leilani Streets. According to the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense update at 5:40 p.m., all residents in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens Subdivsions are required to evacuate.
[…] The fissure in Leilani Estates (as of 6:00 p.m.) was about 150 m (164 yards) long.