December 17, 2025

FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube
  • Home
  • Events
  • NEWS
    • Top Stories
    • National News
    • National Sports
  • Contests
  • Media
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • On-Air
    • Kat & Ku`ehu
    • G. Cruz
    • Kaohu James
  • Podcasts
    • KWXX Mauna Loa Eruption Updates
    • Island Conversations
    • COVID-19 Interview
  • Contact
  • Info
  • FCC Applications
  • Advertise
  • Search
MENU
  • Home
  • Events
  • NEWS
    • Top Stories
    • National News
    • National Sports
  • Contests
  • Media
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • On-Air
    • Kat & Ku`ehu
    • G. Cruz
    • Kaohu James
  • Podcasts
    • KWXX Mauna Loa Eruption Updates
    • Island Conversations
    • COVID-19 Interview
  • Contact
  • Info
  • FCC Applications
  • Advertise
  • Search

Health Officials Warn About Vog During Current Kīlauea Eruption

September 13, 2023 at 3:50 am tdemartini
  • Blogs
  • Uncategorized
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Reddit
  • +1
  • Pocket
  • LinkedIn
hawaii-volcanic-smog

(AP) — The latest eruption of a Hawaii volcano isn’t threatening any infrastructure but health officials are warning the public about air-quality hazards from volcanic smog known as vog.

Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting Sunday. On Monday, scientists downgraded its alert level, saying there was no threat of significant ash emission into the atmosphere outside a limited area within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Later Monday, state health officials said the eruption brought vog to some parts of the Big Island, causing poor air quality.

Volcanic smog, or air pollution, is created by vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide gas released from Kilauea.

The gases are present in their highest concentrations in the immediate area around the summit crater or vents. But they also combine with other particles to form vog, which can spread across the Big Island and even waft over to the state’s other islands.

Vog can give healthy people burning eyes, headaches and sore throats. It can send those with asthma or other respiratory problems to the hospital.

The health department’s air quality map Tuesday showed Pahala, downwind of Kilauea’s summit, as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth was driving to that part of the island Tuesday morning for a series of meetings. Residents in Kau, the island’s southern district, are used to dealing with vog, Roth said, but reminded visitors, especially those with breathing issues, to be mindful.

“The vog a lot of the time will go around Kau and come up to the Kona side,” he said.

© copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved

 

Photo credit: AP/USGS

Tags: air quality, Department of Health, Kilauea Volcano, Mayor Roth, vog
Previous Story
September “Coffee With a Cop” Dates Announced
Next Story
Hawaiʻi County D.U.I. Statistics: September 4-10

Facebook

KWXX FM

Twitter

Tweets by KWXX

"Hawaii's Feel Good Island Music Radio Station"

Info

  • Home
  • Contests
  • Socialize
  • Contact Us
  • Station Info
  • EEO
  • FCC Public File (KWXX)
  • FCC Public File (KAOY)

National News

MEMORIAL FOR ATTACK AT BONDI BEACH

Authorities say Bondi Beach mass shooting was inspired by ISIS

Rob Reiner^ wife Michelle and daughter Romy at the 30th anniversary Screening Of "When Harry Met Sally" at the TCL Chinese Theater IMAX on April 11^ 2019 in Los Angeles^ CA

Nick Reiner to be charged with first-degree murder for killing of parents Rob an...

Social

Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube
KWXX – Hilo, HI © 2025 Powered by OneCMS™ | Served by InterTech Media LLC
Are you still listening?
3628718091
Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)
c08c883e8d036805aa21a26fa0c5a0492f7f0e5a
1
Loading...