A breakout from the June 27 lava flow is now located between 200 yards and 300 yards — about 0.11 to 0.17 miles — upslope of Apaa Street, Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said.
A breakout from the June 27 lava flow is now located between 200 yards and 300 yards — about 0.11 to 0.17 miles — upslope of Apaa Street, Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said.
The breakout, also known as the Apaa Lobe, remains active and continues to advance, Oliveira said shortly before noon Friday. Between Thursday and Friday, the flow advanced 100 yards. Since Tuesday, it has advanced the lobe had advanced 595 yards to 620 yards — 1,785 feet to 1,860 feet.
If the breakout continues on its trek toward the north-northeast, it would likely cross Apaa Street near the sharp corner in the vicinity of the Pahoa Transfer Station, Oliveira said. The breakout is currently 20 yards wide at its leading edge. Within 100 yards of that edge, the flow widens to about the width of a football field.
Based on the latest rate of advancement, lava could reach that area of the roadway in about three days.
If the breakout takes a right turn as it advances downslope, it could join the original flow. And, if it heads north, which would require a left turn, and continues down the steepest line of descent it could head in the direction of Malama Market, Oliveira said.
“As it continues to move we may see some changes in direction, which will gives us an idea of the likely path,” he said.
Officials also continue to monitor the breakout that destroyed an 1,100-square-foot residence on Monday located off Cemetery Road. That lobe, Oliveira said, remains active and continues to advance, however, it remains on the same parcel. During the past 24 hours, it moved no more than 15 yards downslope.
The next nearest residence to that breakout remains about 400 to 500 yards downslope.
Another breakout remains on the property of the Pahoa Transfer Station and has stopped flowing, Oliveira said noting the breakout remained active as of Friday morning. Lava breached the station’s fence on Tuesday and entered the driveway where it burned asphalt for several days.
The driveway, which is where dumpsters would be parked for people to dispose of waste, is situated about 10 feet below the platform where the facility’s structures are located. The nearest vertical structure is above and about 15 to 25 feet from the front of the lobe.
The June 27 lava flow front remains stalled some 480 feet mauka of Pahoa Village Road. The front, which is seeing very little activity at its leading edge, has not advanced since Oct. 30.
There is no threat of brush fire at this time. Smoke conditions are reported as moderate to heavy and the smoke is currently being pushed by southerly winds toward the areas of Ainaloa, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Pahoa and into Hilo. The south winds, which are also carrying vog from Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent and Halemaumau Crater, are expected to continue for the next few days.
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.
Oliveira said that air quality, which is being monitored by stations situated at the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences and the public Pahoa schools, remains within acceptable levels.
Residents in the flow path remain on an evacuation advisory, according to Civil Defense. While Community Emergency Response Teams and Red Cross officials did canvass the area of Apaa Street on Wednesday to remind residents of a possible evacuation and to see if any additional help was needed, Oliveira said a mandatory evacuation is not in effect.
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.