Island of PUNA?!

USGS Photo taken June 27, 2014

This is a photo of Pu'u O'o on June 27th -- the day the NE flow began.  As of September 18th,  according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the leading edge of the lava flow is 300-500 feet wide and 1-2 feet thick. It can thicken, however, to 10 feet or higher as it builds upon itself.  Because the flow does vary, it is difficult to project the exact date that the lava will reach Pahoa and Hwy 130. Given the most recent average daily flow, HVO projects that the lava will reach Pahoa Village road around the end of the month, and Highway 130 around mid-October. *** These dates are estimate each day, based on flow activity and are updated by USGS. ***    From there it is only 4-5 miles to the ocean.



 "The Island of Puna" - home of the Punatics

The black X indicates the area of flow for the past 30 years down through Royal Gardens and Kalapana to the ocean; it is now many miles wide and impassible.  The BLUE lines indicates an old railroad path (not even a real road) and a beach road that is barely passable for most cars.  The county is going to open these temporarily for general traffic.  But the reality is there is nothing to stop the lava flow RED lines as it heads towards downhill to the ocean.  Very soon even those temporary roads will not be accessible.

The GREEN circle represents thousands of people who may will be living on The Island of Puna. (PS: One blog reader had an estimate of 8500 -- but we all know there's probably even MORE.)