The June 27 lava flow advanced about 275 yards during the past 24 hours as it continues to make its way toward the intersection of Pahoa Village Road and Highway 130, Hawaii County Civil Defense reports. ADVERTISING The June 27
The June 27 lava flow advanced about 275 yards during the past 24 hours as it continues to make its way toward the intersection of Pahoa Village Road and Highway 130, Hawaii County Civil Defense reports.
The lava was 1 mile upslope of the main Pahoa intersection, which is where Pahoa Marketplace is located.
An evacuation advisory has not been issued, however, merchants and residents in the area remain on notice to be prepared for a potential evacuation.
“Current activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities and Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory personnel are maintaining close observations of flow activity. Residents and businesses down slope will be kept informed of any changes in flow activity, advancement, and status,” Civil Defense said in its Tuesday’s morning advisory. “As the flow activity continues to show signs of advancement, businesses in the Pahoa Market Place may be taking necessary steps to prepare for a possible evacuation.”
Civil Defense expects that large businesses in the marketplace would need about seven days to prepare for inundation while some of the smaller businesses would need about three days, Oliveira said. The gas station on the grounds would need about three days to sell off and pump out any remaining fuel before filling the tanks with a combination of water and Class B foam to reduce remaining vapor that could ignite.
“The businesses are already initiating what they feel they need to in anticipation of a possible impact,” Oliveira summarized.
If the lava does reach the gas station, it will be the first time a flow has reached such a facility on the Big Island, Oliveira said.
“Down in the Kapoho area, the 1960 flow did affect some stores or a store and school but nothing of this commercial size, scale or complexity,” he said.
Upslope of the leading edge, Janet Babb, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said Monday that breakouts along both sides of the flow pad remain active in an area about a mile to a 1.5 miles below Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent. Near the vent, a narrow finger of lava remains active on the northern edge of the flow pad.
Smoke conditions were reported as moderate Tuesday morning. Smoke from burning vegetation is being blown toward the south-southeast. Smoke conditions may increase in some areas and residents that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take precautions and to remain indoors.
