The volcano erupted earlier this week for the first time since 1984. Mauna Loa is a part of a chain of volcanoes that formed the islands of Hawaii.
Image: Matthew Patrick/Usgs/Zumapress/picture alliance
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The lava from Hawaii's Mauna Loa edged nearer the main island's principal highway on Friday, the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported.
Last erupting almost 30 years ago, the world's largest active volcano flared up earlier this week and the tip of the lava flow now lies just 3.2 miles (5.2 kilometers) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road.
The head of the flow could reach the main road in less than a week from now, the USGS said.
But the authority also said that owing to the unpredictable nature of lava flows, it was "difficult to estimate when or if the flow will impact" the highway.
Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano spewing lava and ash
The world's most active volcano hasn't erupted since 1984. Now, it is spitting out lava, smoke and rocks once more. For volcano watchers, it's an unforgettable sight.
Image: Caleb Jones/AP/picture alliance
Veins of lava
From the window of a helicopter, streams of lava can be seen snaking down from the crater of Mauna Loa in Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park. The biggest volcano in the world last erupted in 1984. It's still unclear how the situation will develop, and whether the lava is likely to reach populated areas.
Image: Civil Air Patrol/Usgs/Zumapress/picture alliance
A photographer's delight
Sightseers on Hawaii Island watch the Mauna Loa eruption from the nearby town of Hilo. The authorities say that as things stand local population centers are not in danger. Vulcanologists had been anticipating an eruption after registering a series of earthquakes on the mountain.
Image: Gregory Bull/AP/picture alliance
Dangerously close
Fountains of lava shoot from a fissure in the Northeast Rift Zone. Some people venture closer to the crater in search of sensational photos — this is a unique natural spectacle, after all — but, in doing so, they're taking quite a risk. For now, the lava is flowing in a different direction, but a bigger eruption could happen at any time, which would send rocks flying into the air.
Image: via REUTERS
Beautiful colors
The light given off by the streams of lava paints beautiful colors on the sky, as thick clouds of smoke blow over the landscape. When the volcano erupted in 1950, the lava flow took just three hours to reach the sea, 24 kilometers (14.5 miles) away.
Image: David Fee/Usgs/Zumapress/picture alliance
From a safe distance
A woman watches the Mauna Loa eruption from a safe distance. Although the surrounding towns are not currently in danger, Hawaii's Civil Defense Agency announced that shelters have been opened in Kailua-Kona and Pahala.
Image: Marco Garcia/AP/picture alliance
Aerial observation
Helicopters are flying over the volcano, which is being closely observed from the air, so officials can react swiftly if the situation changes. Mauna Loa is 4,169 meters (13,758 feet) high, and lava can flow down its steep slopes extremely fast.
Image: Joseph Schmith/Usgs/Zumapress/picture alliance
Ash rain expected
The thick clouds of smoke are expected to bring ash rain. The US National Weather Service has predicted that it will soon fall here on Big Island, the main island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Some areas could be covered in a blanket of ash up to 0.6 centimeters (0.235 inches) thick. No one knows how long the volcano might go on spitting fire.
Image: Matthew Patrick/Usgs/Zumapress/picture alliance
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Highway could be out of action for months
If the island's main east- west freeway is cut off, Hawaii county officials say traffic will have to use coastal roads.
This is likely to, in turn, make them congested, the officials said.
The administrator of Hawaii County's Civil Defense Agency, Talmadge Magno, said earlier this week that if lava flows onto the main highway it would probably take the road out of action for several months.
Mauna Loa lies 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above the Pacific Ocean and is a part of a chain of volcanoes that formed the islands of Hawaii.
