Lava from volcano flows into Hawaiian neighborhood
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is releasing red lava into a residential subdivision, prompting the county to order mandatory evacuations.
Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder said Thursday red lava emerged on Mohala Street in the Leilani Estates subdivision. The county is calling for all residents in the subdivision to evacuate.
The subdivision on the Big Island has a population of about 1,500 people.
The eruption comes after days of earthquakes rocked the Puna district of the Big Island.
The U.S. Geological Survey says new ground cracks were reported Thursday afternoon. Hot vapor emerged from a crack and began spattering lava.
The USGS says areas downslope of the erupting vent are at risk of being covered by lava. Currently, the Leilani Estates area appears to be at greatest risk.
But scientists say new vents and outbreaks could occur and it's not possible to say where.
Jeremiah Osuna captured drone footage of the lava stream after Kilauea erupted. He described the line of lava snaking through forest land as a "curtain of fire."
Osuna said it wasn't just a visual experience. He told Honolulu TV station KOHN that the sound was overwhelming. The only thing comparable is if someone "put a bunch of rocks into a dryer' and turned it on high.
He also said he could smell the sulfur, along with the burning trees and other vegetation.
---
Story by the Associated Press
