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Sulfur dioxide plumes rising from the fissures along Kilauea volcano's rift zone on Hawaii's Big Island on May 16, 2018 in Pahoa, Hawaii.
- Kilauea Volcano has been causing earthquakes of up to a 4.4 magnitude on Wednesday.
- Residents have reported ground shaking, damage to buildings, and cracks emerging in roads.
- One crater began shooting out "ballistic blocks" up to 24 inches (60cm), and explosions could become more powerful.
Kilauea Volcano began causing earthquakes on Wednesday afternoon, after morning explosions of "ballistic blocks" three times larger than bowling balls.
Earthquakes up to a 4.4 magnitude have been measured after Kilauea's caldera, one if its large craters, dropped 3 feet (90 cm) causing nearby faults to move.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), residents and employees at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have reported "frequent ground shaking and damage to roads and buildings." Cracks have also emerged on Highway 11, though they were still passable as of this writing.
The earthquakes are expected to continue and become more frequent, but because of their shallow depth will be more damaging to the nearby region.
Earlier in the day, ballistic blocks up to 24 inches (60 centimeters), which are nearly three times the size of a bowling ball, were found in a parking lot hundreds of yards from Kilauea's Halemaumau crater.
"These reflect the most energetic explosions yet observed and could reflect the onset of steam-driven explosive activity," USGS said.
"Additional such explosions are expected and could be more powerful."
Lava outbreaks are also still possible.
On Tuesday, the volcano's warning system was raised to it its highest level because of the risk to aviation from increased emissions and heights of ash clouds.