Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, has woken up in Hawaii

Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, has woken up in Hawaii for the first time in almost 40 years, LiveScience reports. After the first eruption on the night of November 27, dozens of earthquakes shook the region, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 4.2. Authorities have issued an ash warning on the Big Island of Hawaii, asking residents to remain vigilant. However, while lava flows are localized in the area of the summit and do not pose a danger to people living below the slope. Air travel is not affected. However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned, "Based on previous cases, the initial stages of a Mauna Loa eruption can be very dynamic, and the location and progression of lava flows can change rapidly".

According to the US Geological Survey, Mauna Loa occupies more than half of the Big Island of Hawaii and rises 4,169 meters above the Pacific Ocean. The volcano is quite active, having erupted 33 times since its first well-documented eruption in 1843. The last eruption occurred in 1984, after which Mauna Loa entered its longest known dormant period.

The current eruption started with 5-10 earthquakes per day in June and has grown to about 40 per day in October.