A breakout from the June 27 lava flow is currently entering a crack system located about 3.6 miles upslope of Apaa Street in Pahoa, Hawaii County Civil Defense and U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials said Friday.
A breakout from the June 27 lava flow is currently entering a crack system located about 3.6 miles upslope of Apaa Street in Pahoa, Hawaii County Civil Defense and U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials said Friday.
The breakout, which occurred early this week, advanced about 400 yards between Thursday and Friday, Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said. It is located on the north side of the flow pad and appears to be moving “fairly steadily” as it enters the crack system, which extends about 3.6 miles.
Tim Orr, a geologist with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said the crack system is the same one that lava from the June 27 flow passed through between Sept. 4 and 6. Because lava has partially filled the crack when it passed through previously, he said, it is likely the flow will simply “fill” the crack and bypass it as it continues downslope.
“Based on the current topography and the fact that this breakout, that the current flow is fed by, is on the west side of the older flow should block flows from going any further to the east,” he said. “At the moment it doesn’t look like this particular breakout will pose any additional threat to Kaohe Homesteads.”
Upslope of that breakout, activity continues with numerous surface breakouts and flows between the top of the crack system and Puu Oo vent, according to Civil Defense. Civil Defense said it is an indication lava continues to flow through the system.
Residents in the flow path remain on an evacuation advisory, according to Civil Defense.
Pahoa Village Road remains open in both directions, however, the section of the roadway between Apaa Street and Post Office Road is 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.