DFA monitoring Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano situation

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, has assured continued monitoring of the situation around the restive Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, as experts warn of more violent eruptions. (Photo by Bob Webster/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, has assured continued monitoring of the situation around the restive Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, as experts warn of more violent eruptions.

DFA said the post remains in touch with members of the Filipino Community in Hawaii and has urged them to follow instructions from authorities there.
“The Philippine Consulate General is in touch with representatives of Hawaii County and is monitoring the situation there,” Consul General Joselito Jimeno said Saturday, adding that no Filipino has

been reported to have been affected by the eruption.

According to the Consulate, at least 15,000 Filipinos reside on Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, and about 500 of them live north of the affected area.

On Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey issued a red alert against what could be an imminent major eruption of Kilauea.

The following day, Jimeno said he was assured by Hawaii Governor David Ige that the Hawaii National Guard is ready to evacuate Filipinos who would be affected by the eruption.

Kilauea, which has been continuously erupting for 35 years, has had a larger eruption early this month that resulted in lava flow at the Leilani Estates residential subdivision.

Following the lava flow and the potential for danger to persons and property, the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii has issued an emergency proclamation continuing for 60 days or until further notice.

Ige has also issued an emergency proclamation to mobilize the necessary civil defense authorities to assist in evacuation and provide disaster relief in the affected area.