Lava Creeps Towards Homes In Hawaii

Hundreds of homes on Hawaii’s big island are in danger. Not from a tropical storm, but a 2,000 degree river of lava from the Kilauae Volcano. Homes could be swallowed by the lava, which is inching closer and closer.

Regarding evacuation, Troy Scott of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said, “In many cases we will not force them leave, unless it becomes an unsafe condition.” The rate at which the lava is moving is about 30 feet per hour; slower than walking pace. 

Scott added, “As it moves across soil, you can hear and smell the fire. It is incredibly hot … the heat is very strong.”

According to ohranger.com, According to the theory of plate tectonics, the island of Hawai’i sits on, and is almost in the middle of, the Pacific Plate, a giant jigsaw piece of the Earth’s crust that is moving slowly (about four inches per year) in a northwesterly direction.

The Island of Hawai’i was formed by five volcanoes, but only three are considered active: Hualālai, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea.