Hawiian cops warn people not to risk lives for Kilauea volcano selfie

Police are warning tourists and locals not to risk their lives for the perfect selfie with lava spewing from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, but many are ignoring pleas to stay away.

Frustrated police warned thrillseekers not to enter the area around the erupting volcano or go near the more than 20 fissures where lava is flowing from.

Residents are given cards to let them get back to their homes but they are regularly loaned to others trying to get dangerously close to the action.

‘Lava chasers’ like Demian Barrios are undeterred by police pleas not to risk their lives to photograph the Kilauea volcano

He has barely slept since Kilauea started erupting on May 3 as he chases every one of the almost two dozen fissures as they opened up

He has barely slept since Kilauea started erupting on May 3 as he chases every one of the almost two dozen fissures as they opened up

Numerous photos on social media show volcano enthusiasts posing within yards of red-hot lava, sometimes being violently splattered more than 30ft into the air.

As new fissures open, fountains of magma spouted ‘lava bombs’ the size of refrigerators more than 100 feet into the air that could easily kill an unsuspecting person as they posed for the perfect shot.

‘You don’t want to be underneath anything that weighs 10 tons when it’s coming out at 120 mph,’ the U.S. Geological Survey’s Charles Mandeville said. 

Even more dangerous is sulfur dioxide reaching deadly levels in many areas, hitting 100 parts per million and forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes. 

The latest fissure in the earth opened on Tuesday, spewing lava and toxic gases that pushed air quality into ‘condition red’, causing ‘choking and inability to breathe,’ the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawaii County Civil Defense said.

Despite continued earthquake activity at the Kilauea Volcano, professional photographer Demian Barrios, armed with an iPhone, ignored strict evacuation orders to don a helmet and gas mask to live stream ‘lava bombs’

Despite continued earthquake activity at the Kilauea Volcano, professional photographer Demian Barrios, armed with an iPhone, ignored strict evacuation orders to don a helmet and gas mask to live stream ‘lava bombs’

A lava bomb (red) can be seen striking a field yards from where the photographer was taking shelter, at a neighbour's property

A lava bomb (red) can be seen striking a field yards from where the photographer was taking shelter, at a neighbour’s property

When Hawaii-based photographer Demian Barrios tried flipping the lump of lava over, he yelped and said, ‘this one’s still hot’

When Hawaii-based photographer Demian Barrios tried flipping the lump of lava over, he yelped and said, ‘this one’s still hot’

Demian Barrios calls himself a ‘lava chaser’ and for almost 20 years has been seeking out spectacular volcanic activity to photograph.

He has barely slept since Kilauea started erupting on May 3 as he chases every one of the almost two dozen fissures as they opened up.

‘It’s really something that makes me feel alive. There’s an overwhelming sense of power and respect and love that you feel standing there being able to see that. It’s almost addictive,’ he tole Time magazine.

The 37-year-old filmed himself on Facebook live as he pursued the 17th fissure as it opened on Sunday as huge rocks fell around him.

To withstand the hazards that could kill him if he got to close, Mr Barrios wears a respirator and a helmet and carries plenty of water.

Haley Clinton, 17, stands dangerously close to a red-hot flowing river of lava as it makes it was way across the landscape

Haley Clinton, 17, stands dangerously close to a red-hot flowing river of lava as it makes it was way across the landscape

Her younger sister Jolon Clinton, 15, takes photos as lava erupts from a fissure just a few yards away

Her younger sister Jolon Clinton, 15, takes photos as lava erupts from a fissure just a few yards away

Haley takes photos as lava erupts from a fissure and moves towards her, having already destroyed dozens of homes

Haley takes photos as lava erupts from a fissure and moves towards her, having already destroyed dozens of homes

He said the noxious gasses were some of the worst he ever experienced but it was worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime eruption.

Dozens of homes have been destroyed and more than 2,000 people evacuated with no end in sight to the biggest eruption in 60 years.

Mr Barrios said he may not get the chance for an event like this and had to make the most of it.

‘It makes your heart skip a beat to be able to completely wrap your five senses around it — as a kid growing up being super passionate about volcanoes, it’s something I’ve dreamed of,’ he said.

The lava chaser claimed he developed an instinct that told him when to get out of a dangerous situation before it was too late, and when to stay on.

‘I feel really comfortable, but am always able to put myself close enough to where I want to be, but not in a dangerous spot,’ he said. 

A young man stands within range of lava spurting from a fissure in the rock above him

A young man stands within range of lava spurting from a fissure in the rock above him

People snap photographs of a crater where red-hot lava is erupting with force that could shoot deadly liquid towards them

People snap photographs of a crater where red-hot lava is erupting with force that could shoot deadly liquid towards them

This man was filmed heating up his bong using the heat form a red-hot lava flow he clambered around next tp

This man was filmed heating up his bong using the heat form a red-hot lava flow he clambered around next tp

Robert Hughes, the owner of Aloha Junction Bed and Breakfast in Volcano, said he’s received ‘tons’ of cancellations but suspects adventurers and photographers who want to see the eruption up close will take their place.

‘I’m not too worried about it because I’ve lived here so long and I’ve seen it go through lots of different episodes,’ the 45-year resident said. 

Loud explosions rocked the neighborhood on Hawaii’s Big Island as new fissures opened up with huge booms.

Nearby resident Richard Schott, 34, watched from a police checkpoint as the eruption churned just over a ridgeline and behind some trees.

A lava flow moves down a street in Hawaii, wiping out everything in its path includes homes and cars

A lava flow moves down a street in Hawaii, wiping out everything in its path includes homes and cars

Tina Neal, the scientist in charge of the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, described 'spatter that is flying tens of meters into the air'

Tina Neal, the scientist in charge of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, described ‘spatter that is flying tens of meters into the air’

‘I’ve actually seen rocks fly over the tree line, and I can feel it in my body. It’s like a nuclear reaction or something,’ he said.

 A looming menace remains the possibility of an ‘explosive eruption’ of Kilauea, an event last seen in 1924. 

Pent-up steam could drive a 20,000-foot ash plume out of the crater and scatter debris over 12 miles, the USGS said.



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