Hawaii’s Kilauea Continues To Spew River Of Lava, Threatens Nearby Village

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Nov 18, 2014 08:55 AM EST

Lava continues to flow from the Hawaiian Kilauea volcano after more than 30 years, endangering the village of Pahoa as lava breakouts occurred along the Pu'u O'o vent Saturday, Big Island Video News reported.

The lava flow came at a standstill around the village of Pahoa, but a video captured by Mick Kalber of Tropical Visions Video while aboard a helicopter, showed that more lava is building up, said Big Island Video News.

"This morning's assessment shows very little activity along the breakouts and no advancement has been noted since Saturday," reads an update from the Hawaii County Civil Defense. "Although no activity was observed downslope of the crack system, numerous surface breakouts and flows were noted in the areas from the vent to the crack system indicating lava remains in the system."

The update adds that breakouts have appeared approximately six miles upslope of Pahoa's Ala'a Street, located between the Pu'u O'o vent and the crack system.

Due to the expected flow of more lava, the evacuation advisory for those who live downslope is still in effect. A part of the Pahoa Village Road was also closed off and open only to area residents. Smoke conditions are also being monitored in case they cause respiratory conditions for those living nearby, the update reads.

The Hawaii County Civil Defense released a statement several days ago saying that the village of Pahoa was in danger of being caught in the lava's path, though thankfully the lava is yet to hit residential areas or essential infrastructure, Beta Wired reported.

The Kilauea volcano has not yet erupted, but lava has been flowing from the volcano for over 30 years. Officials are wary of the unexpected direction of its lava flow as the lava hit the Royal Garden in the 1980s and Kalapana in 1990s, both of which are at the southern side of the island and consist of large residential areas, Beta Wired noted.

Three spots in Pahoa have already been hit by the lava, with a family losing their former home to the onslaught, according to The Oregonian.

Part of the flow closest to the town's main road was at a standstill after it stalled two weeks ago. However, The Oregonian added that lava has emerged in other areas and hit the driveway of a trash transfer station, a nearby cemetery and a spot 400 yards upslope of a rural road.

Margaret and John Byrd, who left their first home sometime in September, decided to build a new home in Kalapana, reported The Oregonian. The land was previously covered by lava and was 10 miles away from their former home. Their first home was hit by the lava flow just as they were starting to build their newest.

"Yesterday, as the house was burning, we were pouring the foundation for our new house. It was a really strange coincidence," Dianna Wilcox, the couple's daughter, said in The Oregonian report.

Officials of the Hawaii County Civil Defense said the lava's slow-moving flow was not an immediate threat, though they are monitoring it closely due to its erratic nature, according to Perfect Science.

Shannon Nawotniak, an Idaho State University volcanologist said, "The other surface cools quickly and sometimes the inside keeps flowing. The other shell sometimes cracks and the hot lava oozes out of one crack after another. We cannot predict where these cracks are going to form and where the lava will flow from the cracks," quoted Perfect Science.

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