On November 27th, 2022, the volcano in Hawaii, Mauna Loa, erupted for the first time in almost 40 years. The volcano spat tons of hot lava, alarming residents, but officials say it is safe to watch from a distance.

The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984. When the eruption first occurred, it posed no threat to civilians, but now there is suspicion the lava will reach the highway within the next couple of days. Ken Hon, the head scientist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory told CBS News, there is “a very high probability that this lava flow, if it continues, will definitely reach the road… So we’re looking at about two days out.” The U.S. Geological Survey is warning civilians to be ready.

Officials are preparing to close down the highway and the roads, if necessary.

Mauna Loa, the world’s largest and most voluminous active volcano is on the “Big Island” of Hawaii, standing at 13,681 feet. Mauna Loa’s given name is translated to “long mountain”, which is fitting for the volcano, considering its size. It is a concern that the underground magma will potentially migrate and move downhill, which will make future eruptions harder to predict. So far, there is no movement underground.