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Hawaii’s Famed Hōlei Sea Arch Has Collapsed
The 90-foot lava arch had been showing signs of instability for years, and park officials warned visitors to stay back from the cliff edge.
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park confirmed the iconic 90-foot Holei Sea Arch collapsed into the Pacific Ocean on Hawaii Island, likely during Hurricane Nolo between September 23 and September 27.
- Formed about 550 years ago due to "differential erosion," the arch was carved from an ancient lava flow. Earthquakes during the 2018 Kilauea eruption and Tropical Storm Darby previously damaged surrounding cliffs.
- New cracks appearing in January 2020 prompted the park to close the original viewing area at the end of Chain of Craters Road. Officials opened a safer viewing area further from the cliff edge in March 2020.
- Social media photos show visitors entering closed areas near the former arch, prompting warnings from the National Park Service. Entering this rugged, wave-swept coast creates serious risk of falling and drowning, officials stated.
- Unstable coastal cliff edges at the park drop vertically into the ocean, creating serious falling hazards for visitors. The National Park Service requires all visitors to stay out of closed areas and away from cliff edges.
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55 Articles
55 Articles
(Los Angeles = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Kyung-yoon = A 27-meter-high sea arch, once considered a landmark of Hawaii, has disappeared into the sea.
·Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
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Ilta-SanomatReposted by 
cedarnews.net
cedarnews.netThe exact cause of the collapse is unknown.
·Helsinki, Finland
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The NPS noted that such transformations are part of the natural evolution of the Hawaiian volcanic coast.
·Guayaquil, Ecuador
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources55
Leaning Left5Leaning Right6Center33Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
11%
C 75%
14%
Factuality
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