spewed some ash and lava Monday and officials warned residents of HawaiiB次元官网网址檚 Big Island to prepare for a possible larger eruption.

The U.S. Geological Survey warned the islandB次元官网网址檚 200,000 residents that an eruption of Mauna Loa B次元官网网址渃an be very dynamic, and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly.B次元官网网址�

The eruption began late Sunday night in the volcano on the Big Island following a series of closely spaced, fairly large earthquakes, said Ken Hon, the scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcanos Observatory. Magma moved to the surface, although lava flows were contained within the summit area and werenB次元官网网址檛 threatening nearby communities.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 been a surge of development on the Big Island in recent decades B次元官网网址� its population has more than doubled to 200,000 today from 92,000 in 1980 B次元官网网址� and many newer residents werenB次元官网网址檛 around when Mauna Loa last erupted 38 years ago.

Most of the people on the island live in the city of Kailua-Kona to the west of the volcano, which has about 23,000 people, and Hilo to the east, with about 45,000. Officials were most worried about several subdivisions about 30 miles to the south of the volcano, which are home to about 5,000 people.

A of the eruption from overnight showed lava lighting up one area, moving across it like waves on the ocean.

The eruption migrated from the summit to the northeast rift zone, a notice from the U.S. Geological Survey said. A rift zone is where the mountain is splitting apart and the rock is cracked and relatively weak - making it easier for magma to emerge.

The eruption Monday was feeding several lava flows, which were not threatening any downslope communities. All indications pointed to the eruption staying in the northeast hazard zone, the USGS statement said.

An eruption from the northeast rift zone could send lava toward the county seat of Hilo or other towns in East Hawaii. It could take lava weeks or months to reach populated areas on this side of the mountain.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want to try and second guess the volcano,B次元官网网址� Hon said. B次元官网网址淲e have to let it actually show us what itB次元官网网址檚 going to do and then we inform people of what is happening ASAP.B次元官网网址�

Hawaii County Civil Defense announced it has opened shelters in Kailua-Kona and Pahala because it has reports of people self-evacuating along the coast.

The average Mauna Loa eruption is not typically prolonged, lasting a couple of weeks, Hon said.

B次元官网网址淭ypically, Mauna Loa eruptions start off with the heaviest volume first,B次元官网网址� Hon said. B次元官网网址淎fter a few days, it starts to calm down a little bit.B次元官网网址�

The USGS warned residents at risk from Mauna Loa lava flows to review their eruption preparations. because of a recent spike in earthquakes at the summit of the volcano, which last erupted in 1984.

B次元官网网址淎t this time, itB次元官网网址檚 not a time to be alarmed,B次元官网网址� Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth said.

Portions of the Big Island were under an ashfall advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Honolulu, which said up to a quarter-inch (0.6 centimeters) of ash could accumulate in some areas.

Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that together make up the Big Island of Hawaii, which is the southernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago.

Mauna Loa, rising 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above sea level, is the much larger neighbor of Kilauea, which erupted in a residential neighborhood and destroyed 700 homes in 2018. Some of its slopes are much steeper than KilaueaB次元官网网址檚, so lava can flow much faster when it erupts.

During a 1950 eruption, the mountainB次元官网网址檚 lava traveled 15 miles (24 kilometers) to the ocean in fewer than three hours.

Tourism is HawaiiB次元官网网址檚 economic engine but Roth predicted few problems for those on vacation during the eruption.

B次元官网网址淚t will be spectacular where it is, but the chances of it really interrupting the visitor industry B次元官网网址� very, very slim,B次元官网网址� he said.

For some, the eruption might cut down on some travel time, even if there is more vog, or volcanic smog caused by higher sulfur dioxide emissions.

B次元官网网址淏ut the good thing is you donB次元官网网址檛 have to drive from Kona over to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see an eruption anymore,B次元官网网址� Roth said. B次元官网网址淵ou can just look out your window at night and youB次元官网网址檒l be able to see Mauna Loa erupting.B次元官网网址�

Julia Neal, owner of Pahala Plantation Cottages, said the eruption brings some relief after many preparedness meetings, and much wondering about what the volcano will do.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of a relief that itB次元官网网址檚 happening and weB次元官网网址檙e not waiting for it to happen.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址 that the eruption migrated from the summit to the northeast rift zone and that lava isnB次元官网网址檛 threatening any downslope communities also brings relief, she said.

A few future guests from the U.S. mainland called Neal B次元官网网址渁sking me to make a prediction, which I canB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o I said, just stand by.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擟aleb Jones, The Associated Press