It’s called Lava Ocean Tours, but this wasn’t what the guests signed on for. Hawaii tour boat operators say they will continue taking visitors to see lava from the Kilauea volcano, but will stay farther away after a volcanic explosion Monday fired lava and chunks of debris hundreds of yards in the air and right through the roof of their tour boat. The explosion injured 23 people, and four passengers were taken by
ambulance to a hospital including a 20-year-old woman who is described as having a broken thigh and “major leg trauma.” Matthias Kusch of the Hawaii County Fire Department said, “The vessel called in that it had some injuries due to steam burns and injuries due to falling lava and debris.” Glenda and Kenneth Fay were on another boat nearby when it happened. “(The volcano) just exploded straight out at the boat,” Glenda said. “We could hear the rocks hit the boat, and the people yelling.” READ MORE
