Volcanoes are the only natural phenomena that both destroy AND create. In the wake of her biggest destructive days in modern history, Kīlauea Volcano continues to pump out a truly phenomenal amount of lava and is now creating new land off the Eastern coast of the Big Island.
In the middle of Leilani Estates, where the eruption began just five weeks ago, Fissure #8 continues to effuse thousands of cubic yards of lava each day, resurfacing the island, burning homes, destroying roads, and interrupting lives… and now, she pours her molten mass into the Pacific Ocean, creating the newest land on earth!
Earlier this week, Pele incinerated nearly 300 homes and structures in the Vacationland/Kapoho Beach Lots communities of lower Puna, and according to Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, lava has now consumed over 600 structures over the past five weeks.
Big Island residents are in shock today, mourning the loss of not one, but both of these spectacular beach communities to the ongoing lava flow which began in early May. And the eruption is obviously far from over… Fissure #8 is feeding a huge river of lava, much of which is being stored in a “perched pond” at the bottom of the subdivision… the balance of which is sent downslope and into the ocean.
For the moment, the lava is somewhat contained… but if the wall of the pond is breached, enormous flows could threaten several more places in East Hawai‘i.
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