Flying lava from Kilauea volcano injures 23 people on a tour boat in Hawaii
Flying lava from the Kilauea volcano has struck a tour boat in Hawaii, injuring 23 people on board.
The roof of the boat, which was carrying tourists, was ripped through by flying debris.
An explosion sent rocks flying through the air and into the boat.
The Kilauea volcano erupted in May and has been spewing out molten rock and gas, forcing thousands of people in Hawaii to abandon their homes.
One of the passengers on the boat was reported to have suffered a broken leg, while others were treated for burns and scrapes.
Hawaii officials said a 20-year-old woman suffered a major leg injury after the volcanic explosion sent lava flying through the roof of the tour boat off the Big Island.
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They were on board a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava plunging into the ocean.
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.
Tourist Will Bryan was on the boat with his girlfriend Erin when the lava started flying.
He told the BBC: “As soon as you saw it coming there was no time to move and the worst part was you’re in a small boat.
”So as you’re getting pelted with this lava there is nowhere to go. You only have like 20 feet, and everyone is trying to hide at the same spot. It was actually rather terrifying.
“For a little bit afterwards there was just chaos, and the captain tried to do what he could to keep everyone calm but you can’t. Erin’s face was covered in soot and my back was hot. It was just scary.”
The Kilauea volcano is one of the world’s most active and has destroyed hundreds of homes since May.
However, before the boat incident there had been only one serious injury since it erupted, when a man was hit on the leg by a molten rock projectile while sitting on a balcony.
