A volcanic explosion sent a big burning hunk of lava through the roof of a tour boat just off Hawaii‘s Big Island, according to local officials, injuring 23 people.
Though most of the injuries were burns, cuts and scrapes, a woman in her 20s is in a serious condition with a broken thigh bone. Three others have unspecific injuries and are in a stable condition, says the Hawaii County Fire Department.
The damage was caused by a so-called ‘lava bomb’, which is caused when a glob of molten lava solidifies in the air. They can be hurled up to a kilometre in the air, and are often hot enough to set houses on fire. That’s what tore through the roof of the boat like it was paper.
The Kilauea volcano has been erupting for two months now, which has led to a bespoke tourist industry around boats taking tourists out to sea to watch lava crashing into the water. It causes spectacular plumes of smoke, steam and fire, but obviously comes with a great deal of danger.
In May, the US Coast Guard instituted a 200 metre safety zone for boats around the lava flowoff, but allows experienced operators to apply to get as close as 50 metres.
The lava flow from the volcano has destroyed more than 700 homes, but until this point the only serious injury was to resident Darryl Clinton, who had his leg sliced open by a lava bomb.
