Mauna Loa: World’s largest active volcano in Hawaii erupts for first time in 38 years

Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, began erupting on Sunday for the first time since 1984, ending its longest quiet period in recorded history. The pictures here shows the volcano spewing ash and debris from its summit. (Photo: West Hawaii Today via AP)

The night sky above Hawaii’s largest island glowed a hellish red as bright, hot lava sprang forth at the volcano’s summit, a geologist of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in the US, observed. (Photo: Reuters via third party)

The eruption prompted civil defense officials to warn residents on Monday to be prepared in case the eruption causes lava to flow towards the communities. Here, the volcano can be seen erupting from vents on the Northeast Rift Zone on the Big island of Hawaii. (Photo: U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

The eruption of Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano as seen from Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, in the U.S, on November 28, 2022. (Photo: Twitter @pfranci2/via REUTERS)

Here, molten rock can be seen flowing from Mauna Loa, located on the south-central part of the island of Hawaii, on March 26, 1984. Scientists had then said that they don't expect the eruption to happen right away but officials on the Big Island of Hawaii had warned residents to be prepared in case it does erupt soon. (AP Photo/File)

Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency had opened two shelters on the island as a precaution but emphasized that there are no signs that lava will threaten populated areas and that it had not issued any evacuation orders. In this picture, a gaseous cloud rises from the crater of Mauna Loa, center, on the big island of Hawaii, April 4, 1984. (AP Photo)

This picture shows steam rising from Sulfur Cone, on the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa’s summit region in Hawaii, U.S. during an overflight by geologists of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on October 28, 2022. (Photo: USGS/K. Mulliken/Handout via REUTERS)

The Mauna Loa volcano last erupted in March and April of 1984, sending a flow of lava within 5 miles (8.05 km) of Hilo, the island’s largest city. This handout photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the eruption, as on March 25, 1984. (Photo: U.S. Geological Survey/Handout via Reuters)

Mauna Loa rises 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above the Pacific Ocean, part of the chain of volcanoes that formed the islands of Hawaii. How long the volcano erupts and whether it could cause lava to flow to populated areas of the island is impossible to predict, said Miel Corbett, a USGS spokesperson. (USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory via AP)