Kilauea Lava Resumes Flow to Ocean
Fiery molten lava resumed its flow to the sea Saturday after apparently blasting through a jam in volcanic plumbing beneath the solidified surface crust, scientists said.
A vent in Kilauea Volcano has been sending lava through an eight-mile tunnel network, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
The tunnels apparently became jammed Thursday, causing lava to flow through surface holes nearer the eruptive vent, eight miles from the sea and far from threatened homes.
On Saturday the tunnels appeared to have cleared, and scientists in helicopters spotted new lava that traveled atop older, cooling lava.
Since July 18, the molten river has destroyed 10 homes and created about 20 acres of new land.
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