HILO, Hawaii — Citing pedestrian injuries that occurred on Tuesday night, Hawaii County mayor Mitch Roth issued a second emergency rule regarding the Mauna Loa eruption, his office announced in news release Wednesday.

Like the first emergency rule, it concerns traffic along Daniel K. Inouye Highway. The rule prohibits parking and walking on the highway and its shoulders between mile marker 16 and the intersection of the highway and Highway 190 (also known as Hawaii Belt Road).

Roth had issued an emergency rule on Tuesday, limited parking in the area to county, state or federal employees and verified governmental contractors, with violations subject to fines up to $1,000. 

Emergency rule No. 2 further clarifies that such employees and/or contractors would have to be acting in their official capacity. 

“Our Emergency Rule #2 is again an effort to respond to the increased dangers along the roadway that have become apparent as the eruption along Mauna Loa’s Northeast Rift Zone continues,” Roth said via news release. “Two individuals were injured last night reentering the roadway from the shoulder lane, and that’s not something that we would like to see again. Our rules are in place to ensure people's safety, and we stand by what we’re doing. At the same time, we’re actively seeking solutions to get safer viewing access for our many residents and their families who are, like us, in awe of the beauty and wonder of the current eruption.”

Spectators may view the eruption from the Gilbert Kahele Recreational Area, which remains open 24 hours a day. Security guards are on site 6:15 p.m.-6:15 a.m.

The latest information on the eruption from Hawaii County Civil Defense can be found here. 

Lianne Bidal Thompson is the digital producer for Spectrum News Hawaii. She writes about community and general news.