Hawaii County Civil Defense has placed a mobile command center on Cemetery Road as Madame Pele nears the outskirts of Pahoa.
Hawaii County Civil Defense has placed a mobile command center on Cemetery Road as Madame Pele nears the outskirts of Pahoa.
The rural road connecting Apaa Street and Kaohe Homesteads Road was closed Thursday morning after a Civil Defense overflight observed the June 27 lava flow advancing 0.3 miles away after picking up speed within the past 24 hours.
The flow front had advanced 425 yards since Wednesday and was following a narrow gully.
The Pahoa transfer station at the end of Apaa Street is near the flow’s path and will be relocated to Kauhale Street on Saturday, said Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, Department of Environmental Management director.
Officials are not providing a firm estimate for when the flow could reach Cemetery Road or Apaa Street.
Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said it could be hours or days depending on several factors, including activity farther upslope and what path the flow follows.
But due to the increased activity he said Civil Defense will keep a 24-hour watch on the flow from Cemetery Road.
Oliveira said the flow was about 30 yards wide but could slow and widen as it nears the road.
Nearby properties are vacant and an evacuation has not been ordered.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists are observing the flow on foot today and will report what they find at the lava flow community meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Pahoa High School cafeteria, said spokeswoman Janet Babb.