PLAYING WITH FIRE
Hawaii volcano eruption intensifies spewing volcanic ash from Kilauea as golfers tee off in front of massive ash cloud
GOLFERS tee off against the backdrop of the Kilauea volcano which has been spewing 12,000ft ash clouds.
Hawaii residents are facing the highest volcanic activity alert after officials warned Tuesday that Kilauea is growing more explosive and that a "major eruption" is imminent.
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Authorities issued a "red warning” meaning a "major volcanic eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected with hazardous activity both on the ground and in the air."
Local officials told Fox News that the volcano, which has been erupting for 10 days, could start firing "ballistic projectiles" amid "intensifying ash production."
Nearly 20 fissures have opened since the Kilauea volcano started erupting 12 days ago.
On Monday, another fissure spewing lava and unhealthy gas opened up, and a crack in the Earth that emerged a day earlier was sending molten rock on a slow run for the ocean, officials said.
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Huge cracks open on Kilauea volcano in Hawaii sending out bursts of rock and magma with loud explosions
The eruption has destroyed about two dozen homes in the Leilani Estates subdivision on the Big Island.
Volcanic air pollution and ashfall have been reported in Pahala, and National Weather Service radar and pilots have reported the top of the volcano's ash cloud is 10,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level.
In Hilo, Sandra Barnes told that she’d seen the ash cloud mid-morning between Pahoa and Volcano, Hawaii.
“I had to stop and take a picture,” she said. “That was a few hours ago. God knows what it looks like now. My kids and my mother are up there now.”
Down Highway 11, the main artery connecting the east and west side of the Big Island, a string of cars sit near the entrance of Volcano National Park.
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Though the park is closed, vacationers and some locals watch the ash fall from there.
“We’re not sure if it’s safe but it’s amazing,” Paul Rodaeo, a visitor from Oregon, said. “There really isn’t much more that’s open.”
The explosion sent an ash mushroom cloud downwind, dusting communities as far as 20 miles away.
“I had no idea until a friend stopped by and said look out the window,” Bridgett Fraser said.
Electric crews are on stand by in case more falling ash on electric lines triggers power outages.
Hawaii Electric Light said a light dusting of ash and moisture on utility insulators could result in electrical short circuits.
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“If this occurs, we are prepared to respond once it is safe for employees to work in the impacted area," said Rhea Lee-Moku, spokeswoman for Hawaii Electric Light, said in a statement.
"While we have equipment that can wash off ash from utility equipment, this is the first experience we will have with widespread volcanic ash.”
Nearly 2,000 people have been told to evacuate since May 3.
A version of this story originally appeared on .
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