The June 27 lava flow remains active, however, it has not advanced since Thursday, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Saturday. It remains about 480 feet from Pahoa Village Road and 0.47 miles from Highway 130.
The June 27 lava flow remains active, however, it has not advanced since Thursday, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Saturday. It remains about 480 feet from Pahoa Village Road and 0.47 miles from Highway 130.
Breakouts upslope of the flow front remain active and are advancing, Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said shortly before noon. A breakout on the southern side of the flow that earlier this week was within 100 feet of a home has not advanced, however, a breakout about 100 yards upslope of the home is advancing at about 5 yards per hour.
A breakout on the northern side of the flow, in the vicinity of the cemetery that was engulfed by lava on Sunday, is also moving 5 yards per hour, but has merged with the original June 27 lava flow. It is about 280 yards behind the stalled flow front, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Smoke conditions continue to be light to moderate with moderate trade winds from the northeast pushing the smoke in a south southwest direction. Oliveira said Friday that only vegetation was burning. There was no threat of brush fire at the time thanks to recent rains.
Additional health advisories may be issued depending upon materials involved with any fires associated with the lava flow.
Based on the current flow location, direction and advancement, residents in the flow path were placed on an evacuation advisory and notified of possible need for evacuation. The evacuation advisory for those residents down slope of the flow will continue and residents will be kept informed of the flow status and advancement.
Pahoa Village Road, between Apaa Street and the Post Office Road, remains closed with access limited to area residents only. 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 Friday. The lava is currently 0.47 miles from the roadway, Oliveira said. Officials are discussing options in regard to the roadway should the lava come closer. He said the highway could be closed for safety concerns if the flow crosses Pahoa Village Road and continues its advance toward Highway 130 becoming visible to traffic and creating the threat of fire.
“Once it’s visible, we know we will have traffic stopping or ‘rubbernecking,’” Oliveira said.
Beach Road is open to traffic. Railroad Avenue remains closed as it traditionally has been.
The American Red Cross earlier this week opened a shelter at Sure Foundation Church in East Hawaii for residents evacuated from their homes because of the lava flow in Pahoa. The church is located at 16-1592 Pohaku Circle in Keeau, according to the American Red Cross Hawaii State Chapter.
Salvation Army personnel on Hawaii Island are also mobilizing to respond to the lava flow that Hawaii County Civil Defense officials are predicting will cross the main highway in the coming days.
“The Salvation Army is part of a team of agencies providing assistance during this pending event and working closely with both the State of Hawaii Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and the East Hawaii Island VOAD,” said Major Mark Gilden, Divisional Secretary for Business for The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division. “At this point, we anticipate The Salvation Army will be providing displaced residents, emergency management workers and volunteers with food and water, overseeing a planned temporary storage area for personal property, and facilitating emergency donations. In addition, our mobile canteen is on standby for use on the island.”
The public is encouraged to support the emergency disaster services efforts via monetary donations by clicking here or by calling The Salvation Army at 988-2136. Pahoa area residents in need are encouraged to contact The Salvation Army’s Hilo Corps Office at 935-1277.