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Hawaii News

Lava breakouts creep toward Pahoa highway

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COURTESY BIG ISLAND FILM OFFICE, COUNTY OF HAWAII
A lava breakout has moved to within 700 yards of Highway 130 on Hawaii island, west of the Pahoa po- lice and fire stations.

PAHOA, Hawaii » A breakout of lava heading toward Pahoa’s main highway advanced 70 yards Sunday.

Hawaii County Civil Defense reported the original flow front remains stalled, while the new breakout has moved to within 700 yards of Highway 130, west of the Pahoa police and fire stations. 

Meanwhile, two other breakouts along the north margin of the flow, about 1 to 1.5 miles further upslope, remain active as well but are moving sluggishly.

These breakouts are in a drainage area leading to a steepest-descent path that crosses Highway 130 about 0.6 mile south of the Maku‘u Craft & Farmers Market.

Smoke conditions were moderate, with plumes driven by a light northeast wind. Light rain fell Sunday in the lower Puna area and was expected to help with fire and smoke conditions, Civil Defense reported.

Multiple brush fires caused by the lava flow broke out earlier last week, burning hundreds of acres of vegetation. Those fires have since been contained, Civil Defense said.

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