Eruptions on Hawaii's Big Island spew lava, toxic gas; Governor issues presidential disaster declaration request

Since beginning on May 3, the eruption of Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano has destroyed dozens of homes, forced hundreds of mandatory evacuations and dispersed dangerous sulfur dioxide gas.

After a brief pause in volcanic activity on Monday night and Tuesday morning, two fissures split open in Leilani Estates on Tuesday afternoon.

An emergency alert was sent shortly after the fissures were discovered, ordering people in the area to evacuate immediately. These vents were spewing lava and hazardous fumes.

Each of these two new fissures have paused as of 6 a.m. Wednesday local time. However, they continue to emit hazardous gas.

On Wednesday afternoon, a new vent opened up and began erupting in Lanipuna Estates, bringing the total number of fissures up to 15. That eruption has since paused as of 6 a.m. Thursday.

Officials with Volcanoes National Park announced that most of the park "will close Friday due to the possibility of an explosive steam event and ash fall at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano."

Volcanic activity remained paused at the other fissures across the area, but hazardous fumes continued to spew into the air, posing a persistent danger.