Incredible images captured in space and on the ground show the sheer size and destruction of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano as it continues to belch ash and lava on the Big Island.
Story continues below advertisement
Ash continues to spew from the summit at the volcano, as the plume reached upwards to 1.5 kilometres into the sky on Wednesday, slightly lower than previous days.
However, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a red alert remains in effect, advising that a “major volcanic eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected with hazardous activity both on the ground and in the air.”
Earthquakes rattled the Big Island into late Wednesday, with the largest recorded at a magnitude of 4.4. The tremors caused several cracks on the island’s major highway and damaged several buildings in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Story continues below advertisement
Scientists remained on alert for more violent activity. Geologists have warned that the summit could have a separate explosive steam eruption that would hurl huge rocks and ash kilometres into the sky. But it’s not certain when or if that might happen.
No deaths or injuries have been reported as result of the volcano’s activity.
Photos from on the ground
People watch as ash erupts from the Halemaumau crater during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, May 15, 2018.
Reuters/Terray Sylvester
Smoke and lava erupt from a fissure near a home on the outskirts of Pahoa during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, May 14, 2018.
Reuters/Terray Sylvester
Lava flows from the crater of Kilauea volcano as dozens of structures have been destroyed by scorching lava flows following a massive volcano eruption on Hawaii’s Big Island, May 6, 2018.
USGS
Fire breaks out at the forest as dozens of structures have been destroyed by scorching lava flows following a massive volcano eruption on Hawaii’s Big Island, May 8, 2018.
USGS
In this May 5, 2018 file photo, offerings of ti leaves, rocks and cans to the fire goddess Pele, lie in front of lava as it burns across a road in the Leilani Estates subdivision as a man takes pictures of the flow near Pahoa, Hawaii.
AP Photo/Caleb Jones
Lava and downed power lines block a road in the Leilani Estates subdivision during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, May 8, 2018.
Reuters/Terray Sylvester
Kilauea volcano’s summit lava lake shows a significant drop of roughly 220 metres below the crater rim in this wide angle camera view showing the entire north portion of the Overlook crater in Hawaii, U.S. May 6, 2018.
USGS
A woman takes a photo as an ash plume rises from the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island on May 15, 2018.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
People play golf as an ash plume rises in the distance from the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island on May 15, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Cracks and volcanic debris are seen on a road in Leilani Estate, Hawaii, U.S., May 9, 2018.
Xinhua/Tao Xiyi via Getty Images
Lava flows at a new fissure in the aftermath of eruptions from the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island as a local resident walks nearby after taking photos on May 12, 2018 in Pahoa.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Lava shoots into the night sky from active fissures on the lower east rift of the Kilauea volcano, Tuesday, May 15, 2018 near Pahoa, Hawaii.
AP Photo/Caleb Jones
From space
View of the Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano from the International Space Station on May 13, 2018.
Andrew J. Feustel/NASA
View of the Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano from the International Space Station on May 12, 2018.
Ricky Arnold/NASA
View of the Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano from the International Space Station on May 12, 2018.
Ricky Arnold/NASA
Before and after
This combination of satellite images provided by DigitalGlobe shows an area by the Kilauea volcano near Pahoa, Hawaii on May 24, 2017, top, and May 14, 2018, bottom, after the recent volcanic activity.
DigitalGlobe via AP
This combination of satellite images, provided by DigitalGlobe, shows the Leilani Estates subdivision by the Kilauea volcano near Pahoa, Hawaii on May 24, 2017, top, and May 14, 2018, bottom, after the recent volcanic activity.
DigitalGlobe via AP
This combination of satellite images, provided by DigitalGlobe, shows an area by the Kilauea volcano near Pahoa, Hawaii on May 24, 2017, top, and May 14, 2018, bottom, after the recent volcanic activity.
DigitalGlobe via AP
This combination of satellite images, provided by DigitalGlobe, shows an area by the Kilauea volcano near Pahoa, Hawaii on May 24, 2017, top, and May 14, 2018, bottom, after the recent volcanic activity.
DigitalGlobe via AP