A popular road at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was reopened as volcanic activity at the park eased enough to allow travelers to use it, the US National Park Service announced.
However, the Kilauea volcano is still erupting and sections of the park closest to the eruption remain closed. Park rangers say there is no way for the public to view the current volcanic eruption up close.
NPS reopened Chain of Craters Road at the park, the service announced late Wednesday.
Still, the national park on Hawaii’s Big Island continues to see some access restrictions as the park’s managers remain wary of the unpredictable volcanic activity.
Kilauea’s East Rift Zone split open and began erupting on September 15. Eruptions have continued off and on until yesterday.
“While this eruption has been relatively small in terms of volume of lava, gas emissions have registered at very high levels at a nearby monitor station at Kealakomo Overlook,” NPS said.
Access to certain areas of the park was restricted after Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupted yet again at a remote part of the park. The eruption started last Sunday.
Video footage provided by NPS showed fissures spewing lava inside a crater. The lava stayed in the crater, but the dangerous gases emitted by the eruption were carried by the wind well beyond the eruption site.
With the volcanic activity quieting down, NPS felt it was safe enough to resume normal access to certain areas of the park, but not everywhere.
The National Park Service warns that travelers should be ready for the unexpected.
“Maunaulu Trail and parking area, Nāpau Trail, and Nāulu Trail remain closed to all use due to continued eruption hazards including gas emissions and potential wildland fire,” NPS clarified. “Escape road is open from Highway 11 to the Mauna Ulu Parking lot access road closure.”
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Park Name:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
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Hawaii, USA
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