Blue flames from burning methane are the latest natural phenomena being seen at the eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.
Nighttime photos released Wednesday by the U.S. Geological Survey show the flames spouting from cracks in the pavement in the Leilani Estates neighborhood where the volcano has been gushing lava on the big island of Hawaii for the past three weeks.
This photo from video from the U.S. Geological Survey shows blue burning flames of methane gas erupting through cracks on Kahukai Street in the Leilani Estates neighborhood of Pahoa on the island of Hawaii during the overnight hours of Wednesday, May 23, 2018. When lava buries plants and shrubs, methane gas is produced as a byproduct of burning vegetation. Methane gas can seep into subsurface voids and explode when heated, emerging from cracks in the ground several feet away from the lava. (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
The volcano produces methane when hot lava buries and burns plants and trees.
"The methane gas will flow through the ground, through the cracks that are already existing, and will come up wherever there's a place for them to come up," said Wendy Stovall, a scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey.
The methane can seep through cracks several feet away from the lava. It can also cause explosions when it's ignited while trapped underground. These blasts can toss blocks several feet away, Stovall said.
Hawaii County has ordered about 2,000 people to evacuate from Leilani Estates and surrounding neighborhoods since the eruption began on May 3.
The volcano has opened more than 20 vents in the ground that have released lava, sulfur dioxide and steam. The lava has been pouring down the flank of the volcano and into the ocean miles away.
The eruption has destroyed 50 buildings, including about two dozen homes. One person was seriously injured after being hit by a flying piece of lava.
Stovall said lava spatter from one of the vents was forming a wall that was helping protect a nearby geothermal plant.
This photo released Wednesday, May 23, 2018 by the U.S. Geological Survey shows blue burning flame of methane gas was observed in the cracks on Kahukai Street, during the overnight hours. The volcano produces methane when hot lava buries and burns plants and trees. Scientists say the methane can seep through cracks several feet away from the lava. ( U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
Lava from that vent was shooting further into the air and producing the highest lava wall of all the vents, which was blocking molten rock from flowing north toward the plant.
Officials shut down Puna Geothermal shortly after the current eruption began.
On Tuesday, officials finished stabilizing wells that bring up hot liquid and steam to feed a turbine generator. A team from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the company continued Wednesday to plug the wells to make sure the fluid inside doesn't move from one part of the well to the other, said Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman for Hawaii County.
Earlier this month officials removed a flammable gas called pentane from the plant to reduce the chance of explosions.
Tourism officials cheered news that a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship that tours the Hawaiian Islands would resume stopping in Kailua-Kona next week. Businesses catering to tourists on the cruise have taken a hit since the company suspended Big Island port visits after the eruption began.
The company said it would resume calling on Hilo, a town on the eastern side of the island closer to the lava, when conditions allow.
This Wednesday, May 23, 2018 photo shows a helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone near Pahoa, Hawaii. The volcano produces methane when hot lava buries and burns plants and trees. Scientists say the methane can seep through cracks several feet away from the lava. ( U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
This Wednesday, May 23, 2018, photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, the active fissure complex in Kilauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone near Pahoa, Hawaii. The volcano produces methane when hot lava buries and burns plants and trees. Scientists say the methane can seep through cracks several feet away from the lava. ( U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Bo Naylor hit his first career grand slam, Austin Hedges had his first homer since June 14 and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-1 on Saturday night.
Naylor’s two-out blast in the sixth inning came off Angels starter Reid Detmers (3-3), who had loaded the bases on three walks. The four RBIs were a career high for the third-year catcher.
Hedges, batting .111 on the season, hit a two-run homer in the second. Ramón Laureano added a solo shot in the fourth for the Guardians, who have the second-best record in the American League at 21-12.
Cleveland left fielder Steven Kwan, who leads the AL with a .353 batting average, left the game after the third inning because of left hamstring tightness.
Ben Lively (1-1) went six innings, giving up one run on four hits while striking out five. The right-hander ended a nine-start winless streak that included four losses since beating Kansas City while pitching for Cincinnati on June 14.
The Angels trimmed their deficit to 3-1 in the fifth on a Zach Neto single that plated Jo Adell, but Ehire Adrianza flew out with the bases loaded to end the threat. Neto and Adell each had stolen bases in the inning.
Detmers allowed season highs of seven runs and three homers in 5 2/3 innings. Catcher Logan O’Hoppe exited in the fifth with a right hand contusion.
Los Angeles has not won consecutive games — or a series — in Cleveland since 2013, losing 24 of its last 27 at Progressive Field. The Angels beat the Guardians 6-0 in the three-game series opener.
Hedges had gone 110 plate appearances since homering as a member of the Pirates. He finished last year with the World Series champion Rangers before rejoining Cleveland as a free agent.
Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor, mired in a 4-for-33 slump, was given the night off. Cleveland is in the midst of a stretch of 16 games in 16 days that ends on May 15.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: 2B Luis Rengifo (illness) was held out of the lineup with a high fever after falling ill Friday. Rengifo has the fourth-highest batting average in the AL at .330 and is tied for second with nine stolen bases.
Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (left middle finger inflammation), who has been on the injured list since March 25, has not allowed a run in 4 2/3 innings over four rehab appearances with Triple-A Columbus.
UP NEXT
Angels RHP Griffin Canning (1-3, 7.45 ERA) faces Guardians RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-2, 6.59 ERA) in the series finale Sunday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels' Nolan Schanuel waits to catch a pop fly by Cleveland Guardians' David Fry during the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Los Angeles Angels' Logan O'Hoppe waits to catch a pop foul by Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively delivers against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' David Fry, center left, congratulates Bo Naylor, right, for his grand slam with Tyler Freeman (2), and Jose Ramirez during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Cleveland Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Ramon Laureano, right, watches his solo home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers as Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe, left, looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio, center, is late with a tag as Los Angeles Angels' Zach Neto, right, steals second base and umpire Jeremie Rehak watches during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Bo Naylor watches his grand slam against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Bo Naylor watches his grand slam off against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
