Roasting marshmallows over volcanic fire a 'bad idea'
May 30, 2018
After a query on Twitter, the US Geological Survey has been forced to warn against roasting the spongy sweets over lava spewing vents in Hawaii. The island's largest volcano, Kilauea, has been erupting since early May.
Image: Reuters/USGS
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Hawaii's Kilauea volcano eruption causes weeks of destruction
Kilauea's lava flows have threatened thousands of people's homes in rural Hawaii. Over 40 buildings have been destroyed so far by the eruptions, with experts unsure of when the volcano will calm down.
Image: Reuters/T. Sylvester
Lava meets the sea
Lava from the Kilauea volcano pours into the ocean from Hawaii's main island, while volcanologist Jessica Johnson monitors the developments.
Image: Privat
Lava meets geothermal plant
A lava flow from the Kilauea volcano approaches the Puna geothermal power plant on Hawaii's Big Island. The plant, which provides 25 percent of the island's electricity, has been shut down due to the encroaching lava. It is believed to be the first time a lava flow has forced the closing of a geothermal plant.
Image: Getty Images/M. Tama
One of the world's most active volcanos
Kilauea, which is one of the most active volcanos in the world, has been erupting, oozing lava, and spewing toxic gases for weeks on Hawaii's Big Island. Experts aren't certain when Kilauea will calm down again.
Image: Reuters/T. Sylvester
Kilauea starts smoking on May 3
Around 2,000 people were evacuated from the area around the Kilauea volcano after it erupted and a lava fissure opened on May 3. In the weeks that followed, new eruptions and lava streams threatened the homes of residents located miles away.
Large streams of lava rising up from huge cracks in the earth threatened neighborhoods located near the volcano. The molten rock spilled over on to streets and has destroyed over 40 homes and other buildings.
Image: Reuters/Handout/USGS
Poisonous gasses and glass particle steam
Thousands of residents voluntarily left their homes due to high levels of toxic sulfur dioxide gas that spewed out of vents in the volcanic fissures. Officials also warned residents not to go near the lava that has poured into the ocean — the phenomenon causes the formation of clouds of hydrochloric acid and steam carrying fine glass particles.
Image: Reuters/T. Sylvester
Massive damage to roads
The eruptions and volcanic fissures created massive damage to roads and highways. Two lava streams crossed over a main coastal highway that is used as an escape route for residents.
Image: Reuters/USGS
Playing golf with an ash cloud
Other locals and tourists took a more relaxed approach to the volcanic eruptions. A group of people finished playing a round of golf while others take pictures of a massive ash cloud spewing from Kilauea.
Image: Getty Images/M. Tama
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The US Geological Survey (USGS) on Wednesday cautioned people against roasting marshmallows over an erupting volcano in Hawaii.
The warning came in an exchange of tweets with a curious islander, who wanted to know if it was OK to bake the sweets over lava from Kilauea "assuming you had a long enough stick."
"Erm… we're going to have to say no, that's not safe. (Please don't try!)," the USGS said.
Volcanic vents, the openings in the ground from which lava comes to the surface of the earth, also discharge large quantities of gas, some go which smell like rotten eggs.
The unpleasant smells would also ruin the taste of the marshmallows, the USGS warned.
