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Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - October 31, 2014

October 31, 2014

The June 27th lava flow remains active and continues to widen

The June 27th lava flow remains active in and upslope from Pāhoa. Yesterday, the tip of the flow was stalled about 155 meters (170 yards) from Pāhoa Village Road, which crosses the photo at lower right. A few small toes of pasty lava continue to leak from the sides of the flow just upslope from the front today. A more vigorous flow was burning through forest along the north side of the stalled front just below the Pāhoa cemetery (the burning forest closest to Pāhoa Village Road). This may develop into a new front. Other breakouts even farther upslope were also moving through vegetation and producing smoke plumes.

 

 

This is a closer view of the leading part of the flow, looking toward Pāhoa Village Road, which cuts across the top of the photo. The smoke marks where an active breakout is advancing downslope along the north side of the finger which stalled yesterday after crossing through private property.

 

A few small breakouts remain active near the transfer station, seen at lower right. One breakout, active for several days now, is slowly creeping toward the southern edge of the transfer station, and was about 35 m away today. Another breakout started overnight on the south side of the flow opposite from the lobe heading toward the transfer station. This southern breakout destroyed a cow shelter in the adjacent pasture and is the source of the smoke near the upper left side of the photo.
A hole is left behind by a large tree that was surrounded by lava, burned through at its base, and collapsed onto the solidified flow surface a short time before this photo was taken. The end of the tree trunk is glowing, and flames from burning wood are emanating from the hole. This represents an under appreciated hazard of the lava flow field. Large trees that were surrounded by lava can fall long after the leading edge of the flow has passed by.
Lava from the lobe that was active in the forest below the Pāhoa cemetery overcomes a fence marking private property late on Friday afternoon.

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