Hawaii, May 31 (TNS): Authorities urged people in Hawaii to evacuate an area at risk of being cut off by a flood of lava from the erupting Kilauea volcano.
“Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that lava from several fissures continues to advance toward the Kapoho area,” a Civil Defense message said. “You are at risk of being isolated due to possible lava inundation,” the message added.
Earlier authorities had advised that lava flow from Fissure 8 had blocked a major highway and caused an electricity and telephone blackout.
Meanwhile, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake felt strongly in the area, authorities dismissed the possibility of a tsunami.
The lava has engulfed an area of approximately 9.5 square kilometers. Kilauea is one of five volcanoes on Hawaii’s Big Island.
