Authorities reported dozens of residents have been advised to evacuate as Kilauea Volcano lava nears their homes in Pahoa on Hawaii's Big Island. The lava flow started June 27 and has covered 13 miles.
Each passing hour, lava flow from Kilauea Volcano heads toward their homes in Pahoa. It has swallowed up fences, flowed over a cemetery and neared major roads. CNN reported that in some places in a community of about 950 residents, the flow is already chest-high.
After weeks of intermittent spread, the lava crossed Apaa Street in Pahoa Village on Sunday. According to ABC News, Pahoa Village is considered a main town of the Big Island's isolated and rural Puna district. A mixture of dread and resignation was felt as the 2,000-degree stream of molten rock was getting dangerously near the Pahoa Village road that goes straight through downtown.
By Monday morning, officials said the lava was about 100 yards from a home.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spokesperson Janet Babb said the lava flow advanced about 275 yards from Sunday morning to Monday before noon. The flow moved northeast at about 10 to 15 yards per hour. Depending on topography, the lava can slow down to about 2 yards per hour or can speed up to about 20 yards per hour.
Babb also added that teams of scientists from the observatory were walking alongside the flow day and night to provide updates. At 11:15 a.m. Monday, the lava front was 580 yards from Pahoa Village Road. On a USA Today report, authorities closed the Pahoa Village Road between Apaa Street and Post Office Road to everyone except residents.
By early Tuesday, the observatory said the lava was about 70 yards from the nearest home and moving in a northeast direction. And the lava was flowing 8 to 11 yards per hour.
Residents living downslope of the flow are under an evacuation advisory though most of them have already left or have made arrangements to go somewhere else. Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliviera stated that he does not expect having to issue a mandatory evacuation order.
Experts started to warn the public about the lava on Aug. 22. At the time, residents were cleaning up from a tropical storm that made landfall over the Puna district, where the trees have toppled and the electricity was cut off.
As the residents waited and observed, the lava flow has advanced and slowed. Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano is considered as the youngest volcano on the island. It is also one of the world's most active volcanoes and has been erupting incessantly since 1983.
It seems that most people with their homes located near the front of the lava flow in Pahoa have found somewhere else to stay. But as a precaution, CNN affiliate KITV-TV reported that Hawaii County Defense has opened up an emergency shelter at the Sure Foundation Church in Kea' au.
Since the lava is coming dangerously near the homes in Pahoa, the flow will likely incinerate houses and valued memories. And a bit of chaos will be left in its wake as it follows the path of least resistance toward the ocean.
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