An explosion from a Hawaii volcano sent a ‘lava bomb’ through the roof of a tourist boat, injuring 23 passengers
By Jeremy Berke, Associated Press, From Business Insider
- Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is continuing to erupt.
- An explosion sent a lava bomb through the roof of a tourist boat on Monday, injuring 23 people.
- One passenger suffered a broken femur, while the others suffered superficial injuries, according to authorities.
Hawaii officials say an explosion from the Kilauea volcano sent lava flyingthrough the roof of a tour boat off the Big Island, injuring at least 23 people. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said one passenger broke a leg Monday and others have been burned. According to CNN, the passenger is a female in her 20s and suffered a broken femur.
The other passengers were able to drive themselves to the hospital, and the state fire department told CNN their injuries are superficial. The people were aboard a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava plunging into the ocean. Several companies operate such tours.
Officials have warned of the danger of getting close to lava entering the ocean, saying the interaction can create clouds of acid and fine glass.
The volcano, which has been slowly and continuously erupting for decades, entered a new, more violent eruption phase in May.
Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate following a series of eruptions, and hundreds of homes, offices, and other structures have been damaged around the Big Island.
Officials are interviewing injured passengers at a hospital.
IMAGE: A hole, punched through the roof of a tourist boat, is seen after lava from the Mount Kilauea volcano exploded in the sea off Kapoho, Hawaii.Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via REUTERS
For more on this story and video go to: https://www.businessinsider.sg/kilauea-volcano-lava-bomb-roof-of-tourist-boat-2018-7/
