Molten lava from Hawaii’s volcano reaches a geothermal power plant
Pahoa — Molten lava from the erupting Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island crept onto a geothermal power plant site on Monday, as workers rushed to shut down the facility to prevent the uncontrollable release of toxic gases. Crews were working into the night to cap the 11th and final well at the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) plant, which provides about 25% of the Big Island’s power, the county said in an alert. The race at the site marked the latest challenge facing authorities as they cope with what geologists rank as one of the biggest upheavals in a century from one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The latest explosive eruption at the Kilauea summit occurred shortly before 6pm local time, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported. "The resulting ash plume may affect surrounding areas," it said. The plant has been closed since shortly after lava began erupting on May 3 through newly opened fissures in the ground running through neighbourhoods and roads on the far eastern fl...
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