Loading ...Last night we got emergency alert about a fast-moving lava flow from Fissure 8. It was concerning enough as it headed NE along the ridge and had the potential to reach out to my subdivision. Close watch showed it was headed more easterly and would likely miss my area. But the real fun began this morning as Civil Defense asked for voluntary evacuations from the Kapoho/Vacationland areas due to concern that the evacuation route along Beach Road could be cut soon by the fast lava river. The area is already without power, and overnight the lava was advancing at a rapid 600 yards per hour. If Beach road is cut, the eastern end of lower Puna will be isolated, with only air or sea evacuations possible.
The latest map is here: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
But is only updated daily. The map has what look like blue ‘streambeds’ in the terrain that are actually channels of steepest descent… paths where the lava would USUALLY flow. The current flow has gone from where last nights arrrows are… to along Hwy 132 on the North side and is following the flow line NE to where the large crater and the label ‘Kapoho’ is. The road intersection there at four corners is the last escape route from the area and it could be cut today as the lava advances easterly.
