Breakouts in the vicinity of Apaa Street from the June 27 lava flow remain stalled Monday, however, activity continues about 6 miles upslope, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said at 11:30 a.m. Monday. ADVERTISING Breakouts in the vicinity
Breakouts in the vicinity of Apaa Street from the June 27 lava flow remain stalled Monday, however, activity continues about 6 miles upslope, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said at 11:30 a.m. Monday.
The flow’s breakouts located near cemetery below Apaa Street, the Pahoa Transfer Station and 200 yards upslope of Apaa Street continue to show very little activity and no signs of advancing toward Pahoa. The breakouts started showing signs of slowing on Saturday and by Sunday afternoon appeared to stop.
“As of this morning’s overflight, from the area of the crack system to the very tip of the flow, (there’s been) no activity along the margins or edges,” Oliveira said, “there were a few areas where we could see hot material below, but nothing breaking out on the surface or edges of the flow.”
In addition, the lava flow’s front, which has not advanced since Oct. 30, remains at a standstill some 480 feet mauka of Pahoa Village Road.
Although no activity was observed downslope of where lava from the June 27 flow enters the crack system, which is located about 5 miles upslope of Apaa Street, numerous surface breakouts and flows were noted above that point, indicating that lava continues to move through the system, Oliveira said. Weather conditions prohibited Civil Defense from observing the final mile of the flow from Kilauea’s Puu Oo vent.
All of those surface breakouts and flows are located on the existing flow and have not extended beyond the margin. Oliveira said that some of the breakouts extend up to 80 yards downslope.
There is no threat of brush fire at this time. Smoke conditions are reported as light. Light trade winds are blowing the smoke in a south-southeast direction. Smoke conditions could increase in some areas and residents downwind that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors.
Residents in the flow path remain on an evacuation advisory, according to Civil Defense.
Pahoa Village Road reopened Thursday morning in both directions after being closed for about three weeks. However, the section of the roadway between Apaa Street and Post Office Road remains restricted to area residents only. Access to the businesses and commercial areas of Pahoa can be made via Pahoa Village Road at the intersection of highways 130 and 132 and Post Office Road.
Civil Defense and public safety personnel will be operating in the area round the clock to maintain close observations of flow activity.
Highway 130 remains open. The lava flow remains just under a half-mile from the state highway. Beach Road is open to traffic. Railroad Avenue remains closed as it traditionally has been.
Work on re-establishing Chain of Craters Road, which would be the only means of accessing Lower Puna should the flow cross Highway 130, continues. It should be complete in early December.
