In this Friday, June 1, 2018, at 6:00 AM HST aerial photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, the easternmost Fissure 8 lava flow is seen in the vicinity of Kapoho Crater near Pahoa, Hawaii. This lava flow field has been advancing at about 80 yards/hour, and at 7:00 AM was about 0.85 miles west of the Four Corners intersection. (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
The Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) - A lava flow from the erupting Kilauea volcano has cut off access to Kapoho and Vacationland on Hawaii's Big Island, officials said Saturday.
The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency also said vigorous lava eruptions are continuing in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens.
The volcano began erupting on May 3, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and destroying dozens of homes.
County officials said in a news release that there is no access to Kapoho and Vacationland along Highway 132 or Highway 137 because of the lava flow.
Video posted on Twitter showed a heap of smoldering debris blocking the roadway, as smoke billowed into the air.
Officials had issued mandatory orders for residents of Leilani Estates and those in Kapoho Beach and Vacationland to leave by Friday afternoon or risk being trapped and unreachable by emergency crews.
Residents in the nearby areas should also be prepared to evacuate with little notice, officials said.
The erupting Kilauea volcano has been spouting lava, ash and rocks for nearly a month. About two dozen recent fissures in the area have created towering lava fountains and bone-rattling explosions throughout the eruption.
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In this Friday, June 1, 2018, at 6:21 AM HST aerial photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, the easternmost Fissure 8 lava flow in the vicinity of Kapoho Crater is seen near Pahoa, Hawaii. Fissure 8 continues to feed lava into multiple flow lobes. One lobe is advancing through agricultural lands toward the northeast, as shown in this image taken from a helicopter overflight. (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
The Associated Press
In this Friday, June 1, 2018, photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, a view from the intersection of Nohea and Leilani Streets at 10:15AM HST, the Fissure 8 lava fountain, to the right, appears to have decreased in height from previous sustained heights of 260 feet taken from the Kilauea Volcano near Pahoa, Hawaii. To the left, Fissure 7 appears to be showing renewed outgassing. (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, crews make visual observations of lava activity at fissure 8, Thursday, May 31, 2018 near Pahoa, Hawaii. Fountain heights Thursday morning continued to reach 230 to 260 feet (70 to 80 meters) above ground level. The fountaining feeds a lava flow that is moving to the northeast along Highway 132 into the area of Noni Farms road. (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)
The Associated Press