The tally of homes blanketed with volcanic lava in Hawaii continues to grow. Janet Snyder, a spokesperson for Hawaii County, told the Associated Press that hundreds more homes had been lost. The latest destruction was in the Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland subdivisions located on the Big Island.
The count is now more than double the 117 homes that had previously been confirmed destroyed since Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began erupting May 3, USA Today reports. Thousands of homeowners in Hawaii’s Puna district have been evacuated since the eruptions began. A magnitude 5.5 earthquake followed Tuesday night, shaking parts of the island near the lava flow. The quake reportedly caused ash to spew a mile into the air.
“Unlike lava, which you can see coming and avoid, we cannot see or predict earthquakes,” says Cindy Orlando, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park superintendent. “Nor can we foresee a summit explosion. But both threats continue.”
The Kapoho Bay area, which is located on the Big Island’s eastern side, was filled with lava that extended nearly three-quarters of a mile from shore, the U.S. Geological Survey noted in a statement.
Source: “Lava Destroys Hundreds More Homes in Hawaii, Including the Mayor’s,” USA Today (June 5, 2018)
