The Mauna Loa volcano erupts, as seen from Mauna Kea near Hilo, Hawaii, U.S. December 6, 2022. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
Lava and volcanic gas emissions at Hawaii鈥檚 Mauna Loa, the world鈥檚 largest active volcano, declined on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey鈥檚 (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
As a result, the Observatory downgraded the alert level for the volcano to a watch from the previous level of warning, with lava confined to a small area.
Under a watch alert level, an eruption is underway but poses limited hazards.
Mauna Loa began erupting in late November for the first time since 1984, ending its longest quiet period in recorded history.
The lava flow front in the Humu鈥檜la Saddle region stagnated 1.9 miles (3.06 km) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, and is no longer a threat, the Observatory said.
The behavior of the volcano suggests the eruption may end soon. However, an inflationary trend of Mauna Loa鈥檚 summit is accompanying the decreased activity, the Observatory said.
鈥淭here is a small possibility that the eruption could continue at very low eruptive rates,鈥� it said.
RELATED STORIES