Flying lava bomb hits Hawaiian tourism boat, injuring 23 passengers
Twenty-three people were injured when a flying lava bomb punctured the roof of a lava tour boat, causing a large hole in the vessel early Monday morning.
Hawaii County Fire officials responded to reports of a lava explosion near the Kapoho ocean entry that sent lava bombs of rock and debris flying into the air, which landed on a lava tour boat near Suisan Harbor, Hilo, Hawaii.
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Eyewitnesses report that it ripped through the tour boat roof and landed on several people, injuring both passengers and crew members. The lava bomb was about the size of a basketball, officials said.
(U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
Most of the injured passengers had superficial injuries and were treated on arrival at Wailoa Harbor in Hilo, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said.
According to ABC News 7, one passenger, a woman in her 20s, was in serious condition with a fractured femur. Three others were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, but the remaining passengers were treated at the harbor with varying degrees of injuries.
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