With the lava advancing at about 800 feet per day, it could be a matter of days before Hawai`i County officials elevate the threat level from a watch to a warning.
During a packed meeting at the Pahoa High School cafeteria Tuesday night, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge Jim Kauahikaua and Hawai`i County Civil Defense Administrator Daryl Oliveira provided residents of the Puna area with the latest updates on the position of the so-called June 27th flow.
Kauahikaua said the increase in threat level will occur when the flow is less than a mile from the residential area.
As of Tuesday, the lava had dropped into a deep crack in the East Rift Zone about 7.8 miles from the vent and 1.2 miles from the eastern boundary of the Wao Kele O Puna Forest Reserve.
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The threat would mostly impact residents of the Kaohe Homesteads area.
The lava was seen traveling in the crack, and steam rising from the crack was about 8 miles from the vent and 1.1. miles from Kaohe Homesteads.
Some Kaohe residents were told by county officials that they would be given a five-day notice if evacuation is declared necessary and that officials would be visiting them in Kaohe on Wednesday.
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