- Breakouts remain active in three general areas near Puʻu ʻŌʻō: 1) at the northern base of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, 2) just north of Kahaualeʻa, and 3) the most distal breakout, about 6 km (4 miles) northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. This photograph shows much of the most distal breakout, a portion of which was burning forest. Puʻu ʻŌʻō can be seen near the top of the photograph. Photo taken Friday, April 3, 2015 courtesy of USGS/HVO
- A closer look at the lava flow field near Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Puʻu ʻŌʻō is in the upper left portion of the photograph. Slightly above and to the right of the center of the photograph, the light colored area of lava is the active breakout (which started on February 21) on the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. The small forested cone of Kahaualeʻa is just to the left of the center of the photograph. Photo taken Friday, April 3, 2015 courtesy of USGS/HVO
- The breakout north of Kahaualeʻa has one lobe that has traveled along the west side of the perched lava channel that was active in late 2007. This breakout consists of blue glassy pāhoehoe, which is easily visible in the photograph on the left. The white box shows the rough extent of the thermal image on the right. Active (flowing) portions of the breakout are shown by yellow and white colors, while the red and purple areas show hot, but solidified, portions of the surface crust. Images taken Friday, April 3, 2015 courtesy of USGS/HVO
- In the time since our last overflight (March 24), a new collapse pit has formed in the western portion of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater. This circular pit can be seen in the lower left portion of the photograph, and measures about 27 m (roughly 90 ft) in diameter. Numerous hot cracks were observed in this general area during previous visits on foot. Photo taken Friday, April 3, 2015 courtesy of USGS/HVO
- A closer look at the new pit in the western portion of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater. Views inside the crater with the naked eye were obscured by thick fume, but the thermal images (right) revealed two areas of ponded lava, separated by a pile of collapse rubble, deep within the pit. Measurements using the thermal camera images indicated that the lava pond surface was roughly 24 m (about 80 ft) below the rim of the pit. Images taken Friday, April 3, 2015 courtesy of USGS/HVO
USGS/Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kilauea Status Update for 7:04 a.m. Friday, April 3, 2015
Activity Summary: Three areas of breakouts in the upslope portion of the June 27th flow field in the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano continue to be active, all are within 7 km (4 mi) of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Kīlauea continues to host an active lava lake at its summit.
June 27th Lava Flow Observations: Overnight, webcams showed that three areas of breakouts continued to be active in the upslope portion of the June 27th flow field located to the northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō: the Feb. 21 breakout on the northern flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, the March 9 breakout originating near Puʻu Kahauale’a and extending about 2 km (1.2 mi) northward, and breakouts 5-6 km (3-4 mi) northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. An overflight is planned for this morning.
Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: The tiltmeter on the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō recorded minor variations. The sulfur dioxide emission rate from all East Rift Zone vents was about 400 tonnes/day when last measured on March 27.
Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at Kīlauea’s summit continued recording a modest amount of inflation – about +1 microradian per day. The summit lava lake level rose about 5 m (16 ft) over the past day. Summit tremor continued at relatively steady levels suggesting that spattering is more-or-less continuous. Sulfur dioxide emission rates averaged 4500 – 8300 tonnes/day for the week ending March 31; the higher numbers probably resulted from long spans of continuous, rather than intermittent, gas emissions between March 25 and 31.
- This map shows recent changes to Kīlauea’s active East Rift Zone lava flow field. The area of the flow on March 10, before shutting down near Pāhoa, is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow based on satellite imagery from April 1 is shown in red. Some recent changes north of Puʻu ʻŌʻō are not shown, as that part of the flow field was hidden from satellite view by clouds.
- This map shows recent changes to Kīlauea’s active East Rift Zone lava flow field. The area of the flow on March 24 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as of April 3 is shown in red.
- This map overlays georegistered mosaics of thermal images collected during a helicopter overflight of the three areas of breakouts near Puʻu ʻŌʻō on April 3. The perimeter of the flow at the time the imagery was acquired is outlined in yellow. Temperature in the thermal mosaics is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas (white areas are active breakouts).
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Community lava update meetings suspended until further notice
Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira announced the regularly scheduled Pahoa lava flow community update meetings are being suspended until further notice.
For the latest Civil Defense message, go to www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-al…. For more information, contact Hawai‘i County Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.
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Mayor Kenoi signs third Emergency Supplementary Proclamation for the Puna area
The Mayor has signed his Third Emergency Supplementary Proclamation, due to the threat of disaster due to the June 27th lava flow in the District of Puna, effective Jan. 30, 2015. And that the Proclamation of Sept. 4, 2014, Supplementary Proclamation of Oct. 16, 2014 and Second Supplementary Proclamation of Dec. 3, 2014 shall remain in full force and effect.
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Governor Signs Proclamation Extending Emergency Period
Gov. David Ige signed a supplemental emergency proclamation March 2, 2015. The supplemental proclamation extends the emergency period for the lava flow that threatens the Puna district on Hawaii Island.
“The state stands ready to support Hawaii County in its response to the lava flow,” Ige said. “This extension of the emergency proclamation aids current monitoring and response and recovery efforts. The lava isn’t going to just go away and we need to work together to ensure the community’s health and safety.”
The extension suspends certain laws as needed for emergency purposes. Copy of the proclamation text can be found at www.scd.hawaii.gov/Proclamatio….
A request to expand the Presidential Disaster Declaration to include debris removal and permanent work to repair eligible government and private non-profit infrastructure damaged by the lava flow was submitted in early February.
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State air quality monitoring system website now active for Puna
The State of Hawaii Department of Health is currently operating three (3) air monitoring stations in the Pahoa and Leilani estates area in response to the current and ongoing eruption and lava flow activities. These monitiors detect the presence of air borne particles that may result from the burning materials (vegetation , grass, brush, and other materials). The data and information being collected by these monitors can be viewed at the following web site: emdweb.doh.hawaii.gov/air-qual… , click on “Quick Look” then go to “Puna Special Sites”.
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LAVA DANGER FORCES STATE LAND CLOSURE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
Due to the recent lava flow activity adjacent to the Kaohe Homesteads area in the Puna district, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has closed all state unencumbered lands in the immediate vicinity.
These include the parcels designated by Tax Map Key numbers: (3) 1-5-01:21, 26 and (3) 1-5-08:01. Signs have been posted at various access points warning the public of the hazardous conditions.
DLNR has been receiving reports of tour groups and individuals wandering onto state lands to get a better look at the lava. Although the lava flow has temporarily stopped, there are outbreaks still entering onto state lands.
To ensure safety, DLNR is closing this area to all but essential personnel.
DLNR has also closed Wao Kele O Puna forest reserve, and Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve. Both areas are off-limits to all persons.
Entry into closed lands is a violation of Hawaii Administrative Rule Sec. 13-221-4 and Hawaii Revised Statute 171-6, and is subject of penalty up to $5,000 for the first offense. The Governor’s proclamation enhances the penalties for any offense committed during this emergency.
“DLNR intends to prosecute any trespassers who willfully violate the closures and place enforcement officers and emergency personnel at increased risk,” said William J. Aila,Jr., DLNR chairperson.
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Emergency Preparations Trigger Closure of Pahoa Senior Center
The county Department of Parks and Recreation has closed its Pahoa Senior Center so the facility may be used as an emergency fire station servicing the lower Puna community threatened with lava inundation.
Until the lava threat from Kilauea Volcano ends, the Hawaii County Nutrition Program and the Senior Club will operate from the Nanawale Community Center.
Coordinated Services for the Elderly (CSE) and Elderly Recreation Services (ERS) have been relocated to the Keaau Senior Center. For more details regarding the Department of Parks and Recreation’s elderly services, please call CSE at 961-8777 or ERS at 966- 5801.
The Department of Parks and Recreation apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the closure of the Pahoa Senior Center and thanks the public for its patience and understanding during this time of emergency.
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