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Researchers at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Hawaii island are tracking a lava flow that currently poses no threat but could become a problem for homes in the next few weeks.
Scientists on Friday flew over the so-called “June 27th lava flow” — which was named after the date it began erupting — and reported that the front of the flow was 6.6 miles northeast of its vent on the flank of Pu’u ‘O’o on Kilauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone.
The flow has broken off into two branches. The northern branch was traveling northeast across relatively flat land and the southern branch was flowing into a ground crack.
Based on the steam emanating from the ground crack, scientists estimate the lava had traveled just under a mile in the last four days and was 2.4 miles from the eastern boundary of the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve.
People can track the flow at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.
