Hawaii residents near volcano deal with falling ash, toxic gas, fears of the 'big one'

"We've seen the waxing and waning (of volcanic activity over the past few days). It seems that the system up at the summit has been what we call somewhat open, relieving that pressure," Michelle Coombs, a geologist who is the scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, told reporters in Hilo, Hawaii. "So, it intensified today but it wasn't the big one."

That doesn't mean the "big one" won't happen, Coombs said. The volcano could "plug up" as the magma level in the crater drops and the pressure below could build up, she said.

She said her team isn't quite sure what caused Tuesday's slightly more intense ash emissions.

US Geological Survey officials have said a phreatic eruption could happen at Halemaumau crater at the top of the Kilauea volcano. And it could send ash plumes as far as 12 miles from the summit crater, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.

The USGS changed its aviation color code for the area to red.

"It's very hazardous for aviation," Coombs said.

Weather officials issued an ashfall advisory that ended around 6 p.m. local time.

According to the USGS, ash has fallen as far as 18 miles from the volcano.

Hazardous air

Besides the ash, which is not poisonous, residents have to worry about choking on sulfur dioxide.

Coombs said the gas is coming out of 21 fissures, or cracks in the ground, caused by the volcano.

Levels of the toxic gas are dangerous in some places, Hawaii County officials said.

"Severe conditions may exist such as choking and inability to breathe," the county's civil defense agency said. "This is a serious situation that affects the entire exposed population."

Officials warned residents to leave the area and get medical attention if they're affected by the gas.

Since the Kilauea volcano erupted May 3, it's been one nightmare after another for residents in the southeast part of the Big Island.

'It sounded like hammers in the dryer'

Fissure 17 is the longest and has been shooting lava like a fountain and "sending spatter more than 100 feet into the air," the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.

It is more than a mile long but its advance has slowed to 20 yards per hour, slightly more than a quarter-mile a day.

Coombs said the fissure had diminished in intensity, but officials said activity can go up just as quickly as it goes down.

Still, many of the fissures are emitting "quite a bit" of sulfur dioxide.

Two new fissures are small with not much lava coming from them, she said.

CNN's Stephanie Elam said her heart started pounding as she approached one fissure.

"It sounded like hammers in the dryer," she said. "The molten rock was such a deep vibrant orange that it looked technically altered. When the sulfur dioxide hit my lungs once, it took my breath away."

The Hawaii State Department of Health is asking the general public to avoid any area with fissures because the gases emitted require special cartridge respirators.

Nina Bersamina heeded warnings to evacuate, saying residents are at the mercy of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire.

"When you move to this volcano, or move to this island, you move into her house," Bersamina said.

More eruptions could follow

Scorching lava has already swallowed dozens of homes and vehicles. So far, at least 37 structures have been destroyed, and counting.

In addition to the lava and toxic gases, now there are concerns about phreatic eruptions.

Those are steam-driven explosions that occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits, the US Geological Survey says. The intense heat may cause that water to boil and result in eruptions.

The lava lake in the crater has been dropping since May 2, which increases the chances for a phreatic explosion.

But it will be difficult to warn residents who may be in the path of such an eruption.

Janet Babb, a geologist from the Hawaii volcano observatory, said phreatic eruptions are "notoriously hard to forecast, and can occur with little or no warning."