Active lava breakout could become new flow front
The leading edge of the lobe nearest Pahoa Marketplace is still stalled but, for the past few days, a new breakout has been advancing along its southern margin and is approaching the Apaa St. firebreak.
A lava breakout on the south margin of the lava flow above Pahoa advanced about 130 yards overnight and is approaching the stalled flow front above the Malama Market.
A photo taken Tuesday afternoon shows the lava just mauka of the Apaa Street firebreak.
Hawaii County Civil Defense said the lava was about .6 miles upslope of Highway 130 Wednesday morning.
The flow advanced about 200 yards over the weekend and 40 yards on Tuesday.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said scattered lava activity west of Kaohe Homesteads also continues.
Another breakout on the north flank of Pu’u ‘O’o was also active.
The lava activity is not immediate threat to Pahoa, civil defense said.
The northern tip of the flow remains about 550 yards from Highway 130 in an area west of the Pahoa police and fire stations, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
