Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano, is erupting in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but lava flow is not an issue to communities right now.

RELATED: Mauna Loa volcano erupts in Hawaii https://bit.ly/3gREdMj

The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa on Hawaii’s Big Island, erupted Sunday for the first time in nearly 40 years, shooting 200-foot-high sprays of lava overhead and sending molten rock down its northeast side.

Surrounding communities are far enough away from flowing lava and are not in danger for now, according the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Two shelters were opened as a precaution. Officials said residents should be ready to evacuate if lava flows start heading their way. Evacuations have not been ordered, and schools remain open.

The eruption began at 11:30 p.m. local time in Moku‘aweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, according to an alert by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

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