The lava flow from the Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is creeping closer to civilization every day and is now only a mile away from a grocery store and a gas station, reports say.
The volcano which began to spew lava again in June is slowly edging toward the town of Pahoa. Experts calculate that the lava lobe could contact the town by Christmas if the volcano continues its current action.
“Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey said the flow measured about 250 feet across and had advanced about 220 yards in 24 hours, putting its leading edge 0.9 mile from a small commercial plaza at the junction of Pahoa Village Road and the main highway,” Reuters reported on Thursday.
Some say that the lava flow could intersect the main road near the town’s grocery store and gas station and will then engulf the town’s city center and business district. It will be the worst destruction since 1983, when this lava flow from Kilauea first erupted.
The gas station has emptied its underground gasoline storage tanks and replaced it with water and fire-retardant foam.
Authorities are preparing for an evacuation if the situation demands it.
There have been two earthquakes in the area, too.
“On Nov. 22 at 7:58 a.m., a magnitude-3.3 earthquake occurred 19 miles northwest of Kailua-Kona at a depth of 4 miles,” West Hawaii Today reported. “On Nov. 23 at 7:35 a.m., a magnitude-3.3 earthquake occurred 1 mile west of Volcano at a depth of 1 mile.”
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.
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