Lava is nearing homes in Pahoa, Hawaii as the molten mass continues to move northeast, destroying whatever comes is on its way and posing a horrifying threat to the tiny town of 900.
On Monday evening, media outlets' coverage on the moving molten mass revealed that the lava is near the homes in Pahoa, leaving many residents with no choice but to evacuate, reports TIME.
Since early this summer, authorities and Pahoa residents have been monitoring the movement of the lava that gushed from the Big Island's most active volcano, Kilauea.
Despite the fact that the lava is already near the homes in Pahoa, an order on widespread evacuation is yet to be announced. Meanwhile, local officials have prepared necessary precautions in case the molten mass continues to move and spell more trouble for the residents of the island.
Over the weekend, a number of possessions of the residents have already been flow packed into trailers since the lava has been identified to be within 70 yards of the nearest home.
"Residents in the flow path were placed on an evacuation advisory and notified of possible need for evacuation beginning last night," said the County Civil Defense Agency on Tuesday morning.
Apart from the fear of losing their homes, residents and local officials are also fretting over the idea that the lava would consume the nearby Highway 130, which is serves as the major transportation road of over 8,000 to 10,000 commuters daily.
Given this possibility, county authorities decided to open two auxiliary roads in the area so commuters can still travel in and out of town in case Highway 130 gets damaged by the lava.
According to updates on the movement of the lava that is already near the Pahoa town, it was moving at 10 to 15 yards per hour from Sunday morning to Monday morning, reports USA Today.
The lava was also said to be slowing down at 2 yards per hour depending on topography. It could also speed up to about 20 yards per hour, said Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spokeswoman Janet Babb.
The unpredictable rate of the lava's movement has prompted officials to close the Pahoa Village Road between Apaa Street and Post Office Road to outsiders.
Scientists have been monitoring the movement of the lava from Kilauea volcano since Aug. 22. Kilauea is known as one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and it has been erupting continuously since 1983.
Back in the 1990s, Kilauea released a large flow of molten mass that consumed over 200 homes, according to NewsMax.com.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
