Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano could soon send huge rocks and ash shooting out of its summit crater. The last time this happened was almost 100 years ago.
夏威夷基拉韋厄火山很快就有巨石和火山灰從頂部的火山口噴射出來，上一次火山爆發差不多是100年以前了。
Scientists say the risks of a forceful summit burst will rise in the coming weeks.
科學家稱未來幾周噴發活動會加劇。
Kilauea has destroyed 36 structures — including 26 homes — since it began releasing lava from vents, or openings in the ground. There are now 15 vents spread across the Pahoa area of Hawaii’s Big Island.
基拉韋厄火山毀壞了36個建築——其中包括26處住宅——因為熔巖從火山口或是地面裂口處噴射出來。夏威夷帕赫阿地區比格艾蘭島上有15處裂口。
Tina Neal is a scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory. She said the lava lake looks similar to conditions seen before a major summit eruption in 1924.
蒂娜·尼爾是夏威夷火山觀測站的一名科學家負責人，她指出，這次熔巖湖的狀況和1924年火山爆發前的狀況相似。
That explosion killed one person and sent rocks, ash and dust into the air for 17 days.
那次火山爆發導致一人死亡，噴射巖石、灰和塵土持續了17天。
This could happen again, scientists say, once the summit lava lake drops so low that groundwater can flow into the channel that feeds magma to the crater.
科學家稱這種情況有可能再次發生，一旦山頂熔巖湖降低，地下水流入巖漿通道直達火山口。
The magma would heat the water and create steam. This would push out rocks that have collected there.
巖漿使地下水受熱從而產生蒸汽，這樣的話那裡的巖石會被推上來。
Don Swanson is another scientist with the Observatory. He said the magma is likely to drop below the water level around the middle of May.
唐·斯旺森也是觀測站的一名科學家，他稱五月中旬左右巖漿可能會落到水平面以下的位置。
Scientists do not know how long it would be after that for an explosion to take place. 「We suspect it’s a rapid process,」 Swanson told reporters on a conference call.
科學家不知道在那之後多久火山會爆發。「我們猜測整個過程會很快，」 斯旺森在一次電話會議上對記者說道。
No one lives in the immediate area of the summit crater. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which includes the crater and surrounding area, announced that it would close Friday ahead of the possible explosive event.
山頂火山口附近無人居住。夏威夷火山國家公園涵蓋火山口和周圍區域，園方宣布周五將閉園，那之後可能會有火山爆發。
Cindy Wood was visiting the national park from Canada. 「It seems pretty safe to me right now but they』d know best,」 she told the Associated Press.
辛迪·伍德是加拿大的一名遊客，來遊覽國家公園，她告訴美聯社，「在我看來是很安全的，不過他們最了解情況。
「We don’t know what’s going on underground. Life and safety is what’s most important.」
我們不知道地下發生了什麼，生命安全才是最重要的。」
夏威夷火山
Earlier this month, officials ordered nearly 2,000 people to leave the neighborhoods around the vents. But some ignored the order and stayed to watch over their property.
本月早些時候，官員指示2000人左右離開裂口附近，但是有一些人無視指示，留下來看護自己的財產。
Some have refused to follow orders to leave because of fears their property would be robbed.
有一些人拒絕聽從離開的指示，擔心他們的財產會被偷掉。
I’m Caty Weaver.
凱蒂·韋弗報導。
往 期 回 顧
國外火爆的毒雞湯漫畫，看完兩張我就跪了 | VOA專區