Lava Bomb Injures 23

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

The trip of a group of tourists sailing the waters of Hawaii ended in tragedy when a "lava bomb" dropped by the Kilauea volcano hit their ship, injuring 23 of them and sending nine to hospital.

According to the Hawaii Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR), the incident occurred Monday when incandescent material fell on the roof and other portions of the ship belonging to the company Lava Ocean Tours.

At around 6:00 pm local time, and only about 20 minutes after setting sail, the lava caught up with the navigation leaving a huge hole in its roof, as well as scorched and hardened material scattered across the deck.

Ironically, the company specializes in offering daily excursions to tourists who want to see the lava that the magnificent volcano emits from the sea.

The mentioned Lava Ocean Tours is one of many companies that take tourists to admire the spectacle of the archipelago's active volcanoes.

However, the Kilauea volcano - which has been active for the last 35 years - has entered a more active and dangerous phase since last May 3 when fissures formed in its cone and red-hot lava buried houses and caused the evacuation of thousands of people.

Despite the warnings, not all residents left the area causing tragedies such as that of Darryl Clinton, a California man and island resident who made headlines when the red hot magma wounded and burned his leg.

The incident occurred while the man observed the phenomenon from his home, in the town of Pahoa, approximately 100 yards away. Clinton had to be hospitalized and nearly lost his limb. "It was the most powerful impact I have ever had on life," said the survivor back then, in an interview he gave from his hospital bed.