A Civil Defense overflight Wednesday morning observed that the June 27 lava flow has picked up speed since the beginning of the week. ADVERTISING A Civil Defense overflight Wednesday morning observed that the June 27 lava flow has picked up
A Civil Defense overflight Wednesday morning observed that the June 27 lava flow has picked up speed since the beginning of the week.
Meanwhile, Hawaii County Department of Public Works confirmed Wednesday afternoon a pair of police reports were filed concerning theft of fuel and vandalism of bulldozers involved in efforts to clear alternative routes to Highway 130.
In a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory update released Wednesday morning, it was reported that the flow was heading in a northeast direction through thick forest in the northwest portion of Kaohe Homesteads.
The front had advanced at an average rate of 890 feet a day since Monday, which is slightly higher than the advance rate of 705 feet a day between last Friday and Monday.
The flow front was 9.9 miles from the vent, measured in a straight line.
The actual length of the flow, measured along the lava tube axis (so that bends in the flow are considered) was 11.3 miles.
The flow front Wednesday morning was 1.7 miles upslope from Apa‘a Road.
The flow front is still in thick forest, creating smoke plumes as it engulfs trees and other vegetation, but fires are not spreading away from the flow.
Work on alternative routes for Puna residents in the event the lava crosses Highway 130 continued Wednesday.
The clearing of Railroad Avenue and Government Beach Road appeared to be on schedule for completion by Sept. 29, said DPW spokeswoman Noelani Whittington.
However, “it was reported to us that approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel was siphoned from a dozer,” she said.
