Hawaii volcano lava entering ocean from three flows
Lava has entered the ocean from a third flow, marking 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 kilometres into the sky.
Low lava fountains were erupting from a nearly continuous 3km portion of the series of fissures that have opened up in the ground, scientists said yesterday. The fountains were feeding lava flows along channels down to the coast. The easternmost channel split, creating three ocean entries on Thursday.
Since the eruption began on May 3, Hawaii County has ordered about 2000 people to evacuate from Leilani Estates and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Hawaii officials have said they may need to evacuate a thousand more people if lava crosses key highways and isolates communities in the mostly rural part of the island where the Kilauea volcano is erupting.
A blocked highway would cut people off from the only route to grocery stores, schools and hospitals.
The US Marine Corps said yesterday that it has sent two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from a base near Honolulu to help if more evacuations become necessary. Each helicopter can carry 50 passengers.
The volcano has opened more than 20 vents in the ground that have released lava, sulfur dioxide and steam.
The lava has been pouring down the flank of the volcano and into the ocean kilometres away.
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 continue to be intermittent explosions at the summit that have been sending plumes of ash into the sky.