The lava from the Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is getting closer and closer to the homes of the nearby Pahoa community, as the residents of the nearby Pahoa community can’t do anything but helplessly watch the orange and grey flow eat up their homes. The lava from the volcanic eruption has already reached the first properties in the village after its 123 day journey down the mountain side, Hawaiian TV station KITV reports.
The lava flow originating from the Kilauea Volcano advances with a speed of 5 to 11 yards per hour. The river of molten rock has left its point of origin on June 27th, and has traveled more than 13 miles to reach the first property in the villager of Pahoa. It forced the closure of a portion of a roadway on Sunday night, it has swallowed up a local cemetery, rising to chest height in some places, local residents say. Hawaiian authorities have not issued a mandatory evacuation of the nearly 950 residents in the village, but many residents have already chosen to leave, understanding that lava is an unstoppable force of nature.
Even if their homes not being destroyed by the lava flow, the residents staying in Pahoa will be cut off from the rest of the world. They are loading up on reserves, gas and generators in case of the power going out, according to a local report. The residents are also working on keeping the internet running. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency has built two gravel roads for residents to have an escape route in case of need. Crews sent out by the local power company are building 70 feet tall poles that would resist high heat to raise the cables off the roads, thus ensuring electricity for the remaining residents.