Hundreds more homes destroyed as lava covers most of Kapoho, Hawaii

Nearly 200 homes were destroyed by lava over the past 48 hours, bringing the total number to nearly 300 since Kilauea begun erupting on May 3, 2018.

"It is safe to say that hundreds of homes were lost," Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman for Hawaii County said Tuesday, June 5, 2018, referring to events that happened overnight Tuesday in the Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland neighborhoods.

"Vacationland is almost completely destroyed," Snyder said.

"Tuesday morning overflight confirmed that lava completely filled Kapoho Bay," scientists with the USGS HVO said. 

"Lava is extending 1.1 km (0.7 miles) from the former coastline. To the south, lava is entering the water at the Vacationland tidepools, having inundated most of that subdivision. To the north, lava has covered all but the northern part of Kapoho Beach Lots. The northernmost lobe of the Fissure 8 flow, in the Noni Farms Road area, advanced downslope about 180 m (200 yards) overnight."

By the morning of June 5 (HST), the fissure 8 lava flow front had completely filled Kapoho Bay. Image courtesy USGS/HVO

According to estimates made by videographer Mick Kalber, who once again provided overflight video over Kapoho on Tuesday morning, the lava flow has 'destroyed nearly 200 homes in just the past 36 hours.'

"The beach communities of Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland, some 10 km (6 miles) downslope from the main active vent were inundated late Sunday evening," Kalber wrote June 5, as reported by Big Island Video News.

"By this morning, lava had absolutely decimated the pristine coastal vacation spots, which included some of the best snorkeling reefs in East Hawaii. Many of the homes in the upscale gated community of Kapoho Beach Lots were valued at several million dollars each. These were vacation homes and rentals, as well as primary residences."

Persistent lava fountaining at Fissure 8 is reaching heights of 500 – 590 m (150 – 180 feet), HVO said 08:28 UTC today.

This eruptive activity continues to feed a channel transporting lava to the east to the ocean entry in the Kapoho Bay area. Minor breakouts along the channelized flow have been very small and stagnated before traveling any significant distance.

HVO's late afternoon overflight showed that the Fissure 8 flow is continuing to form a lava delta with limited continuing advances into the surviving parts of the Kaphoho Beach Lots and Vacationlands neighborhoods. The northernmost lobe of the Fissure 8 flow is advancing very slowly to the northeast. No other fissure vents are active.

Pele's hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are falling downwind of the fissure and accumulating on the ground within Leilani Estates. Winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances.

Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.

Volcanic gas emissions remain very high from the fissure eruptions and trade wind conditions are currently bringing vog to the south and west sides of the Island of Hawaii.

Featured image credit: USGS/HVO. Acquired June 5, 2018