Third lava flow entering ocean

HONOLULU: Lava has entered the ocean from a third flow in the third week of a Hawaii volcano eruption that has opened up nearly two dozen vents in rural communities, destroyed dozens of buildings and shot plumes of ash into the sky.

Low lava fountains from the Kilauea Volcano were erupting from a nearly continuous 3kmlong portion of the series of fissures that had opened up in the ground, scientists said yesterday.

The fountains were feeding channelised lava flows down to the coast. The easternmost channel split on Thursday, creating three ocean entries.

Since the eruption began on May 3, Hawaii County has ordered about 2000 people to evacuate from Leilani Estates and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Officials have said they might need to evacuate 1000 more people if lava crossed key highways and isolated communities in the mostly rural part of the island where the Kilauea Volcano was erupting.

A blocked highway would cut people off from the only route to grocery stores, schools and hospitals.

The US Marine Corps said yesterday it had sent two helicopters from a base near Honolulu to help if more evacuations became necessary. Each helicopter could carry 50 passengers.

The volcano has opened more than 20 vents in the ground that have released lava, sulphur dioxide and steam.

Lava has destroyed 50 buildings, including about two dozen homes. One person was seriously injured after being hit by a flying piece of lava.

There continues to be intermittent explosions at the summit that have been sending plumes of ash into the sky.

On Thursday, the volcano belched a plume that reached about 2130m high, preceded by a 3.9magnitude earthquake at the summit, scientists said. — AP