The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii is erupting, sending streams of lava toward homes built on the largest island in the chain. A voluntary evacuation was declared for residents with chronic health conditions who may be cut off from medical care as the eruption continues.
Lava from Kilauea is currently just about a mile from the borders of Pahoa village, with a population of around 800 residents. The former sugar plantation is now filled with homes and business which could be devastated by the flow. Almost 4,000 people live in communities potentially threatened by the current eruption. The red-hot liquid rock is also threatening to cut off Highway 130, a major route in that part of the state, along which 10,000 cars a day travel. If travel along that road is blocked by lava, thousands of people could be forced to travel by gravel roads, hindering travel.
"[M]edical services and supplies will be severely limited and emergency medical response time may be significantly delayed" if the lava flow crosses the highway," residents of the Puna district were warned.
Heavy smoke from forest fires could also present additional health concerns, especially for residents suffering from respiratory issues, according to the Health Department of Hawaii and the American Lung Association.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Civil Defense officials declared flight restrictions directly over the lava stream. This was triggered by the large number of aircraft flying over the volcano, carrying sightseers and members of the media.
"The June 27th flow remains active, with a narrow flow about... 110 yd wide that moved... 220 yd since October 6. The leading edge of the flow is... 1.1 mi upslope from Apa'a St. along the steepest descent path... At the average rate of advancement of... 130 yd/day during the past week, the lava could reach Apa'a St. in about 14 days," Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials reported during a daily update on October 8.
Kilauea began its latest eruption on June 24. This flow seemed to halt late in September, but resumed its flow early in October. Lava originally started traveling toward the Kaohe Homestead subdivision, forcing some residents to flee. Instead of destroying those homes, the flow turned, traveling toward Pahoa.
The lava flow is currently more than 120 feet wide, which could wipe out small towns or villages.
No mandatory evacuations have yet been ordered in the wake of the latest eruption of Kilauea. The volcano has been erupting since 1983 through the Pu'u O'o vent. The last time a house was destroyed by a lava flow from the mountain was in 2012.
