US / Hawaii New Fissure Spatters Lava Near Energy Plant Workers have removed 50K gallons of pentane just in case By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted May 12, 2018 3:35 PM CDT Copied In this Friday, May 11, 2018 photo released by the US Geological Survey, a weak ash plume rises from the Overlook Vent in Halema'uma'u crater of the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. (US Geological Survey via AP) A new lava fissure has opened up on Hawaii's Big Island in the vicinity of a geothermal energy plant, the AP reports. The US Geological Survey says minor lava spatter erupted from the new fissure Saturday morning, which brings the total number of fissures to 16. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports the fissure opened one mile northeast of the last fissure and east of the Puna Geothermal Venture plant. No significant lava flow has been reported so far. Plant workers this week removed the 50,000 gallons of pentane stored at the site as a precaution. Geologists warn that the Kilauea volcano could shoot out large boulders and ash out of its summit crater. President Trump on Friday declared a major disaster exists on the Big Island. (More Hawaii stories.) Report an error