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

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

Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Monday morning that the lava output from the fissure had reduced further, and that new lava has been unable to escape the vent.

The main lava flow from Fissure 3 stalled 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 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 on Saturday reduced its alert level for the Mauna Loa eruption from “Advisory” to “Watch.”