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Mile-Long Lava Flow Spotted on Northeastern Side of Mauna Loa Volcano

Several lava flows, one more than a mile long, could be seen moving along the northeast rift zone of the Mauna Loa volcano in satellite imagery captured on Monday, November 28.

Images captured by Maxar Technologies show lava streaming down the side of the volcano. Three separate fissures could also be seen in the images.

Maxar Technologies said that the longest lava flow was 2 km (1.2 miles) at the time of capture.

They also included a composite image, showing the lava flows overlaid with a picture of the same area of the mountain taken in July.

While the eruption at Mauna Loa was initially contained to the summit, the USGS said on Tuesday that one lava flow had crossed the Mauna Loa Weather Observatory Road. Several lava flows were traveling in a northeast direction from the summit, the update added.

No properties were at risk from the eruption on Tuesday afternoon.

Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth and has erupted 33 times since 1843. Credit: Maxar Technologies via Storyful

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