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Nature and Environment

Lava chunk hits Hawaii boat injuring 23

July 16, 2018

A flaming projectile hit the boat as people were watching lava from Kilauea volcano flow into the ocean. One person is in a critical condition.

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Hawaii Kapoho tour boat
Image: Reuters/T. Sylvester

At least 23 people were injured on Monday when a large chunk of airborne lava penetrated the roof of a tour boat near Kilauea volcano in the US state of Hawaii.

A hole, punched through the roof of a tourist boat, is seen, after lava from the Mount Kilauea volcano exploded in the sea off Kapoho, Hawaii, U.S.
The chunk landed on the boat's roofImage: Reuters/Department of Land and Natural Resources

First responders rushed the injured to Hilo Medical Center after the boat returned to Wailoa Boat Harbor.

Hawaii County Fire Department said a woman in her 20s was in a critical condition with a broken thigh
bone. Twenty-two others suffered from burns and scrapes, including 12 who have since been released from the hospital.

The passengers were part of a regular service tour that allows people to watch lava flow into the ocean. The US Coast Guard allows tour operators to move their boats up to 164 feet (50 meters) from the flow.

Passengers told DLNR that the boat was outside the danger zone when the lava chunk struck the roof.

Kilauea volcano has destroyed more than 700 homes on Big Island since it began erupting since May.

amp/aw (Reuters, AP)