'Ballistic blocks' shoot from Hawaii volcano

Ash erupts from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano. Pic/AFP

"Ballistic blocks" the size of microwave ovens shot from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on Wednesday in what may be the start of explosive eruptions that could spew huge ash plumes and hurl smaller rocks for kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.

Such eruptions, last seen nearly a century ago, have been a looming threat since Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, erupted nearly two weeks ago.

More explosions are expected and may be more powerful, the USGS warned. These steam-driven blasts could send a 20,000-foot ash plume out of the crater, hurling 10-12 ton boulders up to half a mile and scatter pebble-sized rocks over 12 miles, the USGS has said. This type of eruption has the potential to carpet the Big Island in much thicker ash than current dustings.

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