Trump Declares ‘Major Disaster’ in Hawaii After Volcano’s Eruption

President Donald Trump on Friday declared a major disaster exists on Hawaii’s Big Island following the eruption of a Hawaii volcano in the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”

The move will make federal financial assistance available to state and local governments as they repair roads, public parks, schools and water pipes damaged by the eruption.

Kilauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island, is threatening to blow its top in coming days or weeks after sputtering lava for a week, forcing about 2,000 people to evacuate, destroying two dozen homes and threatening a geothermal plant. Experts fear the volcano could hurl ash and boulders the size of refrigerators miles into the air.

The volcano has already destroyed 26 homes and spewed lava hundreds of feet into the air, leaving evacuated residents unsure how long they might be displaced.

A new lava fissure opened up on the Big Island in the vicinity of a geothermal energy plant on Saturday, but no significant lava flow has been reported so far.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports the fissure opened 1 mile northeast of the last fissure and east of the Puna Geothermal Venture plant.

Plant workers this week removed the 50,000 gallons of pentane stored at the site as a precaution.

Geologists warn that the Kilauea volcano could shoot out large boulders and ash out of its summit crater.