A stream of hot slow-moving lava from the Kilauea volcano has been wreaking havoc in Hawaii in the past few months. The slow-moving lava was spotted in June in Pahoa. Ever since, the lava has been moving towards other parts of Hawaii and it has managed to burn down a house in just 45 minutes today. Authorities don’t know the exact route of the lava, but they are working on redirecting it from Highway 130, a crucial route for the Puna district.
Authorities have warned Hawaii residents about the slow-moving lava flow and many have already left the endangered spots or are ready to do so in case of an emergency. The lava flow is currently affecting Hawaii’s Big Island, but it doesn’t show signs of slowing down even more. The first house burned down by the lava flow was consumed in just 45 minutes by the flames. The homeowner had rented the estate to people, who had already left the property in the Summer. The value of the destroyed house was around $200.000.
While the homeowner wasn’t there, a relative filmed the burning house so that they could use the footage in an insurance claim. Authorities in Hawaii have made it clear to locals that they would be helping homeowners “attend” the burning down of their houses and provide recording equipment so that owners can prove the damages to insurance companies. Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliviera said that neighboring houses don’t have much time left before the slow-moving lava hits them.
The lava hasn’t done much damage so far, its victims being part of a cemetery, some tires, a garden shed, vegetation and some metal that got into its way. Nonetheless, the leading edge of the lava flow is rather unpredictable, because lobes of it tend to spread and reach places authorities can’t foresee. The lava flow had stalled for a while at the end of the month, but lava was breaking away from the leading edge and spreading further.