Stop what you're doing and get out. That was the order from Big Island officials Tuesday, who closed Volcanoes National Park due to high levels of vog.

Park officials tell KGMB9 the sulfur dioxide levels were more than three times higher than what's considered acceptable, and 1,000 employees were asked to leave. Hundreds of visitors were also evacuated, and arriving visitors were turned away at the park gates.

Wind conditions were expected to be similar on Wednesday, so the threat remains for dangerous conditions, especially for those with respritory problems.

The park will remain closed at least through Wednesday morning, said Cindy Orlando, supervisor at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

A code purple alert, the most extreme on a recently released warning scale, was issued early Tuesday, leading to voluntary evacuations in the area. Chain of Craters road was closed earlier in the day.

Click here for a copy of the Emissions from Kilauea Volcano brochure

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