An explosion caused by lava oozing into the ocean has sent molten rock crashing through the roof of a sightseeing boat off Hawaii’s Big Island, injuring 23 people. The “lava bomb,” which burst from the water near the boat as molten rock poured into the ocean, landed on the roof of the vessel and crashed into the seating area, said Hawaii County Fire Department Battalion chief, Darwin Okinaka. A woman in her 20s was in serious condition with a broken thigh bone, the department said. Three others were in stable condition at a hospital with unspecified injuries. The rest of the passengers suffered burns, scrapes and other superficial injuries. They were aboard a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava plunging into the ocean from a long-erupting volcano that has been vigorously shooting lava from a new vent in the ground for the past two months. The lava punctured the boat’s roof, leaving a gaping hole, firefighters said. Shane Turpin, the owner and captain of the vessel that was hit, said he never saw the explosion that rained molten rocks down on top of his boat. He and his tour group had been in the area for about 20 minutes making passes of the ocean entry about 500 yards offshore, Turpin said. The damaged roof of boat. Photograph: HO/AFP/Getty Images He didn’t observe “any major explosions,” so he navigated his vessel closer, to about 250 yards away from the lava. “As we were exiting the zone, all of a sudden everything around us exploded,” he said. “It was everywhere.” Turpin said he had no idea just how big the blast was until he saw video of the event later on shore. “It was immense,” he said. “I had no idea. We didn’t see it.” Turpin says that he has been observing and documenting these explosions and that this type of activity is new. There were no warning signs before the blast, he said. “There’s something new. There’s something really new,” he said. “And I’ve been documenting them a bit.” Turpin has been navigating lava tour boats for many years and has lived on the Big Island since 1983. He said most of the injuries were minor, but that he had just visited one woman who sustained serious injuries in the hospital. Officials have warned of the danger of getting close to lava entering the ocean, saying the interaction can create clouds of acid and fine glass. Despite the hazards, several companies operate such tours. The US Coast Guard in May instituted a safety zone where lava flows into the ocean off the Big Island. It prohibits vessels from getting closer than 984 feet (300 meters) from ocean-entry points. The agency allows experienced boat operators to apply for a special license to get up to 164 feet (50 meters) from where lava sizzles into the sea. The molten rock is coming from the Kilauea volcano, which has been erupting continuously for the past 35 years. In May, its eruption entered a new phase when it began spurting lava through newly formed fissures in a residential neighborhood. Officials were interviewing injured passengers at a hospital.<doc-sep>The source of the lava was Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, which has attracted tourists in recent months who are eager to see the piping hot rock for themselves. After the episode, all vessels were restricted from traveling within 300 meters, or about 330 yards, of the lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard said in a statement on Monday. Previously, tourist boats with experienced professional captains could get permission to operate 50 meters or more away from the lava, but they will no longer be able to do so, said Matthew West, a Coast Guard spokesman. The captain of the boat, Shane Turpin, said he was well outside the zone at the time of the explosion, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Mr. Turpin did not respond to a request for comment. A video of an explosion that was captured from another lava tour boat around the time the boat was hit shows a huge plume of dark smoke and red lava on the water’s surface. The Kilauea volcano erupted from its summit earlier this year after days of small earthquakes. The lava flow has destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings, and the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency urged tourists to steer clear of the area in May.<doc-sep>https://www.facebook.com/ikaika.marzo/videos/1887564864629374/?t=16 8:14 a.m.: VIDEO: Lightning, Explosion in Ocean Entry Plume. VC: Ikaika Marzo UPDATE: July 16, 2018, 2:55 p.m.: 23 People Injured on Lava Ocean Tours Vessel Twenty-three people on a Lava Ocean Tours vessel were hurt shortly after 6 a.m. when what has been described as a “lava bomb” sent molten lava showering down on the metal roof of the vessel, leaving a significant hole in it. The Hawai‘i County Fire Department reports four people were transported by medics to the Hilo Medical Center by ambulance, nine others went to the hospital in private vehicles and ten people were treated on the scene for minor soft tissue injuries and burns. The most serious injury was a traumatic leg injury suffered by a 20-year old woman. All other passengers who went to the hospital were treated for minor scrapes and burns. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD After the explosion, the boat returned to its dock at the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo, where it was met by emergency medical personnel, first responders and officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. DOCARE and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the incident and have no further comment on what happened until that probe is completed. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD Anyone conducting commercial ocean tours of the active ocean entry at Kapoho are required to have a commercial use permit from the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). The owner of the boat involved does have a current and valid permit. This tour company also has permission to use the Wailoa harbor as its base of operation, after voluntarily relocating from the Pohoiki boat ramp which is about .5 miles from the active ocean entry currently. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard established a permanent safety zone surrounding the entry of lava from the Kīlauea volcano on the southeast side of Hawai‘i island. The safety zone encompasses all waters, extending 300 meters (984 feet) around all ocean entry points. DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, “Clearly, everyone is interested to learn what happened this morning. In the meantime, all of those injured today are very much in our thoughts for speedy and full recoveries.” Another tour boat, operated by Hawaiian Lava Boat Tours, was off-shore when the explosion occurred. The video provided by Hawaiian Lava Boat Tours (below) shows a second explosion, a minute or so after the first one that damaged the Lava Ocean Tours vessel. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD UPDATE: July 16, 2018 12:32 p.m.: DLNR Reports 22 Injured The DLNR reported at 12:31 this afternoon that 22 people were hurt early this morning when a lava explosion sent molten lava through the metal roof of a lava tour boat. UPDATE: July 16, 2018, 10:46 a.m.: Coast Guard to Investigate Incident A Coast Guard investigator from Sector Honolulu is en route to investigate the lava tour boat incident. The safety zone currently stands at 984 feet with no exclusions. The Lava Ocean Tours boat captain reported that the closest the boat got to the ocean entry was 600 feet. Per the captain of the tour boat, the boat arrived offshore Pohoiki lava entry site approximately 500 yards (1,500 feet) offshore, then proceeded to get closer until it was approximately 200 yards (600 feet) offshore. The safety zone surrounds the lava flow and extends out 300 meters (985 feet), although certain commercial and research vessels with licensed captains demonstrating experience operating in the region and carrying all required safety equipment were given special permission to approach up to 50 meters (164 feet). Coast Guard officials said they would make no determinations as to whether the boat was within the danger zone until they concluded their investigation. At approximately 6 a.m., Sector Honolulu watchstanders received an initial report from 911 of three crew members and three sightseers injured in an incident that occurred near a lava flow in Kapoho Bay aboard the tour boat Hot Spot. The vessel returned to Hilo harbor where awaiting emergency medical services were on standby to receive the injured. Upon arrival in Hilo, that number was revised to 12 total injured, three seriously and nine minor. The injuries reportedly range in severity with the worst being a broken leg. In response to increased lava activity in the area, the Coast Guard established a temporary safety zone March 2017. That zone was made permanent in May 2018 following a notice of proposed rulemaking. The zone was set with significant input and consultation from experts with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and date from the University of Hawaii at Hilo Marine Science Department. Tour vessels are known to operate the area going back at least 20 years. For more information on the zone, see the latest Marine Safety Information Bulletin. UPDATE: July 16, 2018, 10:10 a.m.: HFD Releases Details The Hawai‘i Fire Department disclosed more details regarding this morning’s lava tour boat incident offshore of Pohoiki area, where Fissure 8 lava is entering the ocean. HFD units arrived at the Wailoa docks in Hilo at 6:38 a.m. to find passengers of a lava boat tour with injuries from a lava explosion. Per the captain of the tour boat, the boat arrived offshore Pohoiki lava entry site approximately 500 yards offshore, then proceeded to get closer until it was approximately 200 yards offshore. When the explosion occurred near the shoreline, hurling hot lava rocks towards boat and injuring several passengers, the boat headed out to sea. The HFD, Hawai‘i Police Department and the DLNR met Lava Ocean Tours’ “Hot Spot” as it docked. HFD medic units performed triage on all passengers; three were transported by medics, nine went to Hilo Medical Center via their personal vehicle and 10 were treated on scene for minor soft tissue injuries and burns. UPDATE: July 16, 9:55 a.m.: DLNR Reports 13 People Injured The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) reports that 13 people were treated at the Hilo Medical Center after an incident on a lava tour boat early this morning. A 20-year-old woman suffered major leg trauma. The other passengers incurred burns and scrapes. DOCARE and other authorities are investigating this incident. “DLNR sends its wishes for full and speedy recovery to all of those involved,” DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said. PHOTO UPDATE, July 16, 9:45 a.m. Lava Ocean Tours boat in Hilo after littoral explosion that injured multiple people The roof of the vessel has visible holes ripped through the roof where passengers were sitting below. Police on-site said passengers were burned and suffered broken bones. PC: Crystal Richard 9:40 a.m.: DLNR Report on Lava Bomb-Lava Boat Incident At least 10 people on a Lava Ocean Tours vessel were injured this morning after an explosion sent lava through the roof of the boat’s passenger cabin. Other reports indicate as many as 12 passengers were hurt. Officers from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) along with the Hawai‘i County Police Department are investigating the incident. The tours depart from the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo at 4 a.m. daily. Prior to the beginning of the East Rift Zone Eruption event, tours left from the Pohoiki Boat Ramp, which now is within .5 miles of the active ocean entrance. DOCARE officers are now in the process of interviewing injured passengers at the Hilo Medical Center. In initial reporting, passengers say the vessel was outside of the U.S. Coast Guard-established safety zone. Along with first responders both state and county officers were at the Wailoa ramp when the boat returned after the incident. It’s reported one passenger has a broken leg and the others were burned, though the full extent of their injuries is not known at this time. More information will be published as it becomes available. 9:15 a.m.: Lava Bomb Rips Through Tour Boat Roof The Hawai‘i County Fire Department has confirmed that a lava tour boat returned to Wailoa Harbor in Hilo around 7 a.m. with 12 injured passengers after the tour boat operated by Shane Turpin was involved in an ocean entry lava explosion.<doc-sep>
Mario Tama / Getty Images / AFP | People ride a tour boat to view Kilauea volcano lava entering the Pacific Ocean on May 22, 2018 near Pahoa, Hawaii. A blob of hot volcanic lava struck an ocean tour boat just off the Big Island of Hawaii on Monday, injuring nearly two dozen people in the worst casualty incident to date from the ongoing eruption of the Kilauea Volcano. Advertising Read more A huge steam-driven explosion, caused by molten rock mixing with seawater as it poured from the shoreline, sent a "lava bomb" crashing through the roof of the boat and into the vessel's seating area, authorities said. The boat returned to port in Hilo on its own power less than an hour later, and three of the injured, including a woman in her 20s whose leg was broken, were taken to a local hospital by ambulance, Hawaii County Fire Department Battalion chief Darwin Okinaka said. Nine or 10 others with less severe injuries were driven to the hospital by private vehicle, and 10 more people were treated by paramedics at the port, he told Reuters by telephone. A civil defense spokeswoman, Kelly Wooten, put the total number of injuries at 23. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) said the boat was operated by Lava Ocean Tours, one of at least three companies offering daily excursions to passengers who pay around $220 per person to watch from a vessel lava flowing into the sea. The stricken 49-passenger-seat vessel, dubbed Hot Spot, was later videotaped maneuvering to its dock after passengers were unloaded. A still photograph furnished by DLNR showed a gaping hole in its canopy. Explosion at sea The boat was also showered with smaller bits of volcanic debris and cinder from the explosion. Eyewitness video footage from a nearby vessel showed a towering cloud of steam and ash billowing into the sky, punctuated by the glow of red-hot embers and flashes of lightning. Officials for the company were not immediately available for comment. State and local police and the DLNR were investigating the incident, which occurred shortly after dawn near the eastern-most edge of the Big Island, where lava from the 10-week-old Kilauea eruption has been flowing into the Pacific since early June. The boat's distance from shore and from the site of the lava explosion was not immediately known, authorities said. Vessels are generally barred from venturing any closer than 300 meters (yards) to lava ocean entries under U.S. Coast Guard safety rules, though experienced boat operators had received special permission to get as close as 50 meters (yards), according to agency spokeswoman Amanda Levasseur. Lava Ocean Tours, whose website promised excursions allowing passengers to "see, hear and feel the heat" from lava flows entering the ocean, is the oldest of several tour boat companies operating in the region. Levasseur said that after Monday's incident, the Coast Guard would strictly enforce its 300-meter buffer zone exclusively. The reaction of molten lava and cold seawater, especially at shallow depths, is always a volatile combination capable of producing large steam-driven explosions that can launch chunks of volcanic fragments hundreds of feet (meters) in the air, U.S. Geological Survey geologist Janet Babb told reporters on a conference call. Boaters and seaside residents also have been warned to avoid noxious clouds of laze -- a term derived from the words "lava" and "haze" -- formed when lava reacts with saltwater to form a mix of acid fumes and steam laced with tiny glass-like particles. Two entire housing developments consisting of hundreds of dwellings were destroyed several weeks ago as lava spewing from a fissure on the slope of the volcano inundated the seaside Kapoho area in the vicinity of Monday's boat accident. Hundreds more homes have been swallowed closer to the eruption site. The property losses marked the most destructive eruption of Kilauea in modern times, but no fatalities have been reported. The most serious previous injury was of a man whose leg was shattered in May when he was hit by molten lava ejected by a volcanic fissure while he was standing on the third-floor balcony of his home about 200 yards (meters) from a flow in the Pahoa area. (REUTERS) Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe