DFA monitoring Hawaii volcano situation

Lava shoots into the night sky from active fissures on the lower east rift of the Kilauea

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has assured Filipinos in Hawaii that they are closely monitoring the Kilauea volcano situation, after the United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a red alert, warning of a possible major eruption.

“The Philippine Consulate General is in touch with representatives of the Hawaii County and is monitoring the situation there,” Consul General Joselito Jimeno said in a statement on Saturday.

According to the Philippine consulate, about 15,000 Filipinos reside on the island.  500 of these live north of the affected area.

Jimeno said that reports indicate that no Filipinos have been directly affected by the recent eruptions.  He also talked with Hawaii Governor David Ige, who assured that the Hawaii National Guard is ready to evacuate Filipinos if necessary.

Hawaii’s Office of the Mayor has issued an Emergency Proclamation to mobilize the government’s civil defense authorities to provide assistance in evacuating and providing disaster relief within the affected areas.  The proclamation is effective for 60 days or until further notice.

Kilauea is one of the, if not the world’s most active volcanoes.  The Hawaiian volcano has been erupting almost continuously since 1983, according to the USGS. /muf