U.S.

Officials: Hawaiians Can Go Home, Briefly, Amid Air Quality Warnings

Hawaiians were told to stay away from areas near Hilo on Sunday after new fissures opened on the Kilauea volcano.

Officials: Hawaiians Can Go Home, Briefly, Amid Air Quality Warnings
U.S. Geological Survey
SMS

Authorities in Hawaii said Sunday they would start letting people in evacuation zones return to get pets and items left behind when they fled from volcanic eruptions. They warned, though, that the air quality was bad and that people should leave again as soon as they have what they need.

The U.S. Geological Survey said new cracks, or fissures, opened Saturday night and started spewing lava. Some lava fountains got as high as 230 feet.

Hundreds of people on the Big Island have evacuated. Authorities say six homes have been destroyed. Officials had said Friday that people who left items behind in their homes might be able to return for them, but the new eruptions disrupted those plans.

In addition to the new fissures, officials are warning people about the potential effects of the sulfur dioxide the volcano is putting into the air. It can irritate the nose, throat and eyes. It can also make breathing difficult. Experts say the sulfur dioxide could effect people across multiple islands depending on how long the eruptions last.