Lava crosses Apaa Street, evacuation preparation begins

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Hawaii County Civil Defense is asking Pahoa residents in the path of the June 27 lava flow to be prepared for an evacuation by Tuesday after the flow crossed Apaa Street.

Hawaii County Civil Defense is asking Pahoa residents in the path of the June 27 lava flow to be prepared for an evacuation by Tuesday after the flow crossed Apaa Street.

The flow crossed the road at about 3:50 a.m. and is advancing toward the northeast at about 10 yards per hour, Civil Defense said.

Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials are conducting door-to-door notifications in Pahoa village down slope of the flow.

Civil Defense said this morning: “Based on the current flow location, direction and advancement, residents in the flow path will be placed on an evacuation notice.

“The evacuation notice means residents in the flow path areas should prepare for possible evacuation in the next three to five days. Those area residents will be kept informed of the flow movement and are asked to complete all necessary preparations for a possible evacuation by Tuesday, Oct. 28.”

It wasn’t immediately clear how many residents would be asked to evacuate.

Apaa Street and Cemetery Road are closed. Access to Kaohe Homesteads remains restricted.