HILO, Hawaii (AP) - A man has collapsed and died while viewing lava on the Big Island.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that the man collapsed in a “remote area” on Thursday while leading a group to a lower Puna viewing site. He died at the scene.
Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe says officials are unsure why he collapsed, but he says there are warning signs in the area due to fumes.
Okabe says a couple of other people had to be looked at by medics. He says foul play is not suspected.
Okabe says mishaps often occur in the lava viewing area, but most are people falling while hiking or crashing bicycles.
Okabe says the lava viewing area won’t be closed to the public.
An autopsy of the man has been ordered.
___
Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
Please read our comment policy before commenting.