Scientists: Hawaii volcanic eruption continues to ease

The eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island continues to ease, scientists said Sunday, reinforcing an earlier pronouncement that the mountain’s first flare-up in nearly 40 years might soon end. Sunday’s update came a day after scientists lowered the alert level for the volcano from a warning to a watch and said the eruption could be in its final days.

Ken Hon, U.S. Geological Survey/ Hawaii Volcano Observatory said "We have good news to report. The eruption still is at an extremely low level at this point, and it's contained within the cinder-cone at the fissure three vent." "So it is no longer producing lava that is moving outside and down the mountain." Mauna Loa began spewing molten rock Nov. 27 after being quiet for 38 years."