Hawaii volcano lava destroys hundreds of homes overnight

Honolulu, US: Lava from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano destroyed hundreds more homes overnight, overtaking two oceanfront communities where residents were advised to evacuate last week, officials have said.

No injuries were reported as most residents heeded the advice to leave.

The latest lost homes were in addition to at least 117 others that were previously reported by officials since lava began spilling last month from cracks in the ground in a mostly rural district of the Big Island.

“We don’t have an estimate yet, but safe to say that hundreds of homes were lost in Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland last night,” Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman for Hawaii County, said Tuesday.

A morning overflight confirmed that lava had completely filled Kapoho Bay, inundated most of Vacationland and covered all but the northern part of Kapoho Beach Lots, scientists with the US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.

Despite earlier reports that lava claimed Big Island mayor Harry Kim’s second home in Vacationland, an aerial flyover confirmed his home is still standing, Snyder said.

County MD Wil Okabe said his own vacation home in Kapoho Beach Lots was threatened. Okabe described the area as a mix of vacation rentals and yearround residences.

“For us it’s more of a vacation area, but for those who live there permanently, they’re trying to figure out where they’re going to be living,” he said. Kim and Okabe live in Hilo, the county’s seat, which is more than an hour drive from the Kapoho area.

One shelter was full Tuesday, officials said.

Governor David Ige signed a second supplemental emergency proclamation Tuesday that gives the county more options for shelters and sets criminal penalties for violating emergency rules, such as failing to evacuate and interfering with emergency workers.

Lava claimed Harry Pomerleau’s home in Vacationland.

“It’s a necessary evil. It’s not our land. It belongs to Pele,” he said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. “I have to imagine. She knows what she’s doing.” Kapoho resident Mark Johnson was coming to terms with the possibility of losing his home and five- acre citrus farm.