Hawaii volcano eruption: Locals just HOURS from being stranded as lava speeds into village
HAWAII locals have been told to evacuate immediately as fast-moving lava from the Kilauea volcano eruption threaten to engulf entire neighbourhoods within hours.
By SIMON OSBORNE
Express.co.uk
Wed, May 30, 2018
Residents in the Leilani area are being ordered to leave their homes immediately as the lava spreads down Highway 132.
Shelters have been set up at community centres and churches in the area.
A Civil Defence spokesman said: “Residents on Noni Farms Road and Hale Kamahina road need to evacuate immediately due to a fast moving lava flow.
“Shelters are open at the Pahoa Community Center, Kea’au Community Center and the Sure Foundation Church.”
A second update at 1.30am local time (12.30pm BST) extended the evacuation notice to the Kapoho area including Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland.
The alert said: “You are at risk of being isolated due to possible lava inundation of Beach Road near Four Corners. At the present rate of flow, it is possible that Beach Road near Four Corners may be blocked within four to six hours.”
The evacuation orders came as Kilauea entered its fourth week of simultaneous eruptions at its summit crater and along a six-mile string of fissures 25 miles down its easterm side.
Lava flows from multiple fissures have blocked roads and damaged dozens of buildings on Hawaii’s Big Island.
The lava has also destroyed more than 400 electric poles and other equipment, causing power outages, the utility Hawaii Electric Light reported.
A spokesman for the US Geological Survey said: “A fast-moving lava flow is travelling down highway 132 and is currently near the intersection of Noni Farms road.
“It advanced 800 yards over 80 minutes. The flow is fed by continued strong fountaining from Fissure 8.
Contingency plans have been made for a possible helicopter evacuation of up to 1,000 residents in a coastal area south of the fissures should their last exit route, State Highway 130, become blocked by lava or become unsafe due to gaping cracks.
At least 82 homes have been destroyed in the southeastern corner of Big Island and about 2,000 people have been ordered evacuated since Kilauea began erupting on May 3.
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