April 3, 1868 Eruption of Mauna Loa

1868, April 2 [local time]. Earthquake during eruption generated tsunamis; heavy rains produced mudflows. 46 killed by tsunami, 31 by mudflows. (reference #9675)

Smoke and flames appeared in small volume in different places at the top of the Mauna Loa volcano on the 27th (of March, accompanied by light shocks.) Along the entire south coast of the island and in the interior, numerous collapses, slides,and rock falls took place. In Wood Valley between Kapapala and Pahala, a mud flow came down. It was 5 1/2 km long, 1 km wide at the middle and 2 km wide at the head, with an average thickness of 2 m, up to 6, 9 and 12 m in places, such as in depressions of the relief. It covered a village of 10 homes; 31 people died. In the basalt sheets west of Waiohinu, a crack was formed, along which a horizontal shift occurred. Cracks also developed at other places. The earthquake was accompanied by countless recurrent shocks, at least 2000, of which some were also destructive. Several days after the earthquake, strong eruptions of the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes occurred. Lava flows destroyed 37 homes. (reference #415)