23 Injured After Lava Explosion Hits Tour Boat Off Hawaii’s Big Island

FILE - In this May 20, 2018 file photo, plumes of steam rise as lava enters the ocean near Pahoa, Hawaii. An explosion sent lava flying through the roof of a tour boat off Hawaii's Big Island, injuring at least 13 pe... FILE - In this May 20, 2018 file photo, plumes of steam rise as lava enters the ocean near Pahoa, Hawaii. An explosion sent lava flying through the roof of a tour boat off Hawaii's Big Island, injuring at least 13 people Monday, July 16, 2018, officials said. The people were aboard a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava from an erupting volcano plunge into the ocean. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) MORE LESS
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HONOLULU (AP) — An explosion sent lava crashing through the roof of a tour boat off Hawaii’s Big Island, injuring 23 people Monday, officials said.

A woman in her 20s was in serious condition with a broken thigh bone, the Hawaii County Fire Department said. Three others were in stable condition at a hospital with unspecified injuries. The rest of the passengers suffered burns, scrapes and other superficial injuries.

They were aboard a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava plunging into the ocean from a volcano that has been erupting for two months. Firefighters said the lava punctured the boat’s roof, leaving a gaping hole.

Officials have warned of the danger of getting close to lava entering the ocean, saying the interaction can create clouds of acid and fine glass. Beside the hazards, several companies operate such tours.

The U.S. Coast Guard in May instituted a safety zone where lava flows into the ocean off the Big Island. It prohibits vessels from getting closer than 984 feet (300 meters) from ocean-entry points.

The agency allows experienced boat operators to apply for a special license to get up to 164 feet (50 meters) from where lava sizzles into the sea.

The molten rock is coming from the Kilauea volcano, which has been erupting from a rural residential area since early May and has destroyed more than 700 homes. But until now, the only serious injury was to a man who was hit by flying lava that broke his leg.

Officials were interviewing injured passengers at a hospital.

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Notable Replies

  1. “They were aboard a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava plunging into the ocean …”

    Darwin’s little troopers…

    Edit: Especially this…

    I mean, you don’t actually want to be anywhere fucking near lava meeting the ocean…AT ALL.

    Here’s somewhat of an explanation as to why you’d be breathing glass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V2eCFsDkK0

  2. Drat, I regret passing on the chance to invest in Darwin Awards Tourism Ltd.

  3. “How’d you break your leg, Susan?”

    “Oh, I got hit by lava.”

    So metal.

  4. What did you do during your vacation in Hawaii?

    Duh.

  5. “What? You mean the boat is not on tracks and the exploding lava isn’t special effects?”

    Normal human inclination to gawk coupled with TV disassociation AKA another lesson in how life is not the same as a Universal Studios ride.

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