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Reuters
PAHOA, Hawaii
Smog from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano drifted north up the island chain on Wednesday and communities south of its summit were warned of up to a quarter-inch (0.6 cm) of ashfall as the nearly two-week eruption showed no sign of easing.
Rockfalls and explosions in Kilauea's crater sent ash and smoke spewing thousands of feet above the volcano, sparking an aviation red alert. A change in prevailing winds blew the volcanic smog, or vog, north toward the next island, Maui.
On the Big Island, ash fell on southern communities, such as Pahala, 18 miles (29 km) south of the summit, with cars heading from the area covered in the gray powder.
Ash is a new hazard for Hawaii's Big Island, already grappling with volcanic gas and lava that has destroyed 37 homes and other structures and forced the evacuation of about 2,000 residents from communities in the southeast Puna district.
Volcanic smog, which can cause irritation to eyes and airways, has till now mainly blown southwest out to the ocean or caused pollution in Big Island cities like Kona on the west coast.
