No liquid lava detected outside of Fissure 3 as eruption weakens further

USGS/HVO — A small lava pond within Fissure 3 is the Mauna Loa eruption's only liquid lava remaining.

The only liquid lava still present in the Mauna Loa eruption is confined to Fissure 3.

Hawaii County Civil Defense reported this morning that the lava output of Fissure 3 has reduced further, and that new lava has been unable to escape the vent itself.

The main lava flow from Fissure 3 stalled out last week after liquid lava was cut off from the flow front. The flow reached about 1.7 miles away from Daniel K. Inouye Highway, but has not moved substantially over the last several days.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported yesterday that sulfur dioxide emissions also have diminished over recent days, while tremors which would signal the movement of lava beneath the earth’s surface are no longer detectable.

HVO reduced its alert level for the Mauna Loa eruption from Advisory to Watch on Saturday.

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