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USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
The Puna lava flow has not advanced closer to Pahoa Marketplace, but is still active. Breakouts were also active Tuesday near the True/Mid-Pacific geothermal well site, and about 1.6 miles above the stalled front, where a narrow lobe has been advancing toward the north-northeast. The view is to the southwest.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
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A breakout lava flow upslope of the stalled front appears to be headed to Highway 130 south of the Maku’u Farmer’s Market and north of the Pahoa Marketplace, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said in an update Wednesday.
Two active lava breakouts, about 1 to 1.5 miles above the stalled flow front, advanced about 75 yards between Tuesday and Wednesday in a north-northeast direction, Hawaii County Civil Defense officials said after a morning overflight.
Observatory geologists said the two-fingered lava lobe about 1.6 miles from the Pahoa Marketplace entered a drainage that leads to a steepest-descent path that crosses Highway 130 about .6 miles south of the Maku’u Farmer’s Market.
However, the lava is still about 2.2 miles from the highway.
Scientists and Civil Defense officials also observed surface lava about 200 yards upslope of the flow front and another breakout about 4 miles upslope of Pahoa near the True/Mid-Pacific geothermal well pad.
None of the lava flows pose an immediate threat to area residents.
The front of the lava flow remained stalled about 880 yards upslope of the intersection of Pahoa Village Road and Highway 130.
At noon Wednesday, county officials planned to close the Railroad Avenue Alternative Access Road for maintenance and to preserve the road. The road was built as an alternate route if lava crosses Highway 130, the main access route to Hilo for Puna residents. Officials opened the road last month to allow residents to become familiar with it.
The next lava flow community meeting is 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Pahoa High School cafeteria.
