As dangerous lava flows from Kilauea continue to spread on Hawaii’s Big Island, drones are proving an invaluable tool in leading residents out of harm’s way, according to Digital Trends.
The U.S. Geological Survey on Wednesday tweeted out the drone footage that helped emergency responders find a path to a home where a resident was trapped and in imminent danger of getting caught in the lava flow, as well as an escape route out.
As the USGS described the footage in the tweet, the drone “helps guide evacuations and leads to the successful rescue of a resident after a lava pond outbreak sends a fast pahoehoe flow down Luana Street.” Drones are doing their job, allowing researchers to watch lava flows up-close without endangering the lives of emergency responders.
“Follow the drone to safety.” USGS UAS mission in Kīlauea volcano’s lower East Rift Zone on 5/27/18 helps guide evacuations and leads to the successful rescue of a resident after a lava pond outbreak sends a fast pāhoehoe flow down Luana Street. https://t.co/S3nUtwYMdM pic.twitter.com/kpfjQI9pOX
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) May 30, 2018
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