Deadly 'laze' is rising in enormous plumes around Hawaii — here's how it forms and what it looks like

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Hawaii's Kilauea volcano isn't just spewing lava into the air anymore. That lava is flowing into the water, leading to a dangerous concoction called laze. 

Laze — a combination of the words lava and haze — is the product of a chemical reaction that happens when molten, 2,140-degree-Fahrenheit lava hits the ocean. The sea water gets boiled, creating a messy mix of hydrochloric acid, steam, and tiny glass particles.

The noxious plumes of laze are extremely dangerous for people to breathe. Hawaii's civil defense is sounding the alarm to residents, warning that laze can cause lung damage, eye and skin irritation, and even death in serious cases.

Take a look at how it forms and why it's so hazardous:

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• Hawaii's Kilauea volcano claimed its first injury after a man was 'lava-bombed' while sitting on his porch

• Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is still spewing out lava, and new cracks in the earth are opening hours after it erupted

• Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has erupted, sending ash clouds 30,000 feet into the sky — here's what it looks like on the ground