Flying lava hits tourist boat
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, according to a report in The Guardian.
One passenger broke her thigh bone while three others were hospitalised and the rest suffered burns, scrapes and superficial injuries.
The lava comes from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano which has been spewing gas and molten rock since it erupted in May.
The tourists were aboard a tour boat that gives visitors the chance to see lava plunging into the water.
The owner and captain of the boat, Shane Turpin, told the Guardian that he didn’t see the explosion that hit his boat and that the tour had been going for about 20 minutes and was 500 yards offshore when the incident occurred.
“As we were exiting the zone, all of a sudden everything around us exploded,” he said. “It was everywhere.”
Would you ever travel close to an erupting volcano?
500 yards from an erupting volcano is not very far. What possesses people to take such risks?