The tally of homes and other structures recently destroyed by lava on Hawaii island is now up to 82, according to a new count from Hawaii County today.
The most recent previous count was close to 50, though that figure was based on estimates made by visual observations from the air that sometimes were difficult because of smoke and other factors.
Today’s updated figure is from the county’s Real Property Tax Office and the Office of Housing and Community Development.
Also, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said an earthquake that occurred at approximately 12:44 p.m. today was not large enough to cause a tsunami for Hawaii island.
Preliminary data indicated that the 4.4 magnitude earthquake was centered in the summit region of Kilauea.
Lava has been coming out of the East Rift Zone mainly within the Leilani Estates subdivision since May 3.
A flow originating near the center of the subdivision is moving to the northeast in a development that could threaten Highway 132, an important access road for authorities and an evacuation route for remaining residents.
The flow from fissure 21 has been moving north along Kaupili Street to about 200 yards south of Kahukai Street at the edge of the Leilani subdivision, “but the flows are sluggish in the northeast direction,” said county spokeswoman Janet Snyder.
Wendy Stovall, a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said lava in the area has built up into a pond that is 14 meters above surrounding ground level and is inflating. Stovall expects minor overflows but not rapid movement.
Another lava breakout from the same fissure system has occurred nearer to Mohala Street, according to Snyder, and fissure 3 in the same area has also been active.
“If fissures start opening up north, we may have to look at inundation of (Highway) 132,” she said. That highway extends from Pahoa village to Kapoho, and has become an increasingly important transportation route since lava severed Highway 137 on the Puna coast south of Pohoiki.
If Highway 132 is cut near its intersection with Pohoiki Road, Highway 137 along the coast from Kapoho to Hawaiian Beaches would become the last remaining route in and out of the Pohoiki and Kapoho areas.
Snyder said scientists are waiting for data from an observation overflight, and expect to have more details about the potential threat to Highway 132 later today.
Lava from fissure 22 continues to feed one lava river that is flowing into the ocean, while fissures 6 and 13 are feeding a second ocean entry, she said.
Meanwhile, fissures 7 and 21 are feeding a perched lava pond and flow of pāhoehoe lava — basaltic lava with a smooth or ropy surface — that has advanced eastward covering most of the area bounded by Leilani Blvd, Mohala St., and the fissure line, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Fissure 17 continues to spatter weakly, while Fissures 19 and 23 are no longer active.
Lava flowing in the Lower East Rift Zone has so far destroyed at least 47 structures, and Snyder said it has covered an estimated 15,000 acres.
At the Kilauea summit about 25 miles away, there were a series of strong explosions starting Thursday night at 6 p.m. and continuing today, but very few earthquakes, she said. Those ash eruptions have not released any lava, but have scattered a layer of ash across Pahala and other communities in Kau.
The National Weather Service issued an alert at 11:03 a.m. that trace ashfall remains possible from Kilauea. The communities of Pahala, Wood Valley and Naalehu are particularly likely to receive ash fallout as trade winds push the ash southwest from Kilauea.
Volcanic gas emissions remain very high from the fissure eruptions. Additionally, trade winds are forecast to slow over the weekend, creating hazardous air quality and decreased visibility conditions throughout the lower east rift zone, Hawaii County Civil Defense said. Volcanic gases, vog and ash emissions may increase over the weekend with higher levels of sulfur dioxide pooling in areas downwind of the vents, the agency said.