Dozens of residents in a rural section of Hawaii were placed on alert as flowing lava from an erupting volcano continued to advance this weekend.
Local authorities on Sunday said lava flow on the Big Island of Hawaii had advanced around 250 yards since Saturday morning and was moving at the rate of approximately 10 to 15 yards an hour, according to the Associated Press.
"Residents in the immediate downslope area of the flow path have been advised to prepare for possible evacuation tonight," the update said. "Due to the unpredictability and inconsistency in the flow rate of advancement, precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of all residents." The Red Cross opened a shelter for displaced residents, Hawaii News Now reported.
The flow front passed through a predominately Buddhist cemetery, covering grave sites in the mostly rural region of Puna, and was around a half-mile from Pahoa Village Road, the main street of Pahoa.
Darryl Oliveira, director of civil defense for Hawaii County, said to reporters during a teleconference that the nearest home was around 300 yards from the flow front, according to the AP.
He was planning on getting better coordinates during a flight later on in the day.
Local residents in the flow path have been told to complete all necessary preparations by Tuesday for a possible evacuation. That timeline could change however, based on the flow rate.
Oliveira said that around 50 to 60 structures, including homes and businesses, in the area will most likely be impacted.
Authorities went door-to-door to warn residents on Saturday about the need to be ready to evacuate. The majority of residents contacted had identified locations where they could go, with "less than a handful" saying they may need to go to a shelter, Oliveira added.
Kilauea volcano has been erupting since 1983. Most lava from this eruption has flowed south, according to the AP. Over the past two years however, the lava has flowed to the northeast.
The current flow started in June and has been moving toward Pahoa in fits and starts.
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