Lava flow reaches ocean in Hawaii

HILO, Hawaii, March 6 (UPI) -- Officials in Hawaii said lava from the Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii has begun to flow into the ocean.

Civil Defense officer Duane Hosaka said the lava reached the bottom of the volcano and began flowing into the ocean at about 1 a.m. Thursday morning, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.

Hosaka said observers from Civil Defense at the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory were watching the path of the lava from helicopters Thursday.

Meanwhile, state and county officials said they are planning to construct a new site to observe the lava and the attraction is expected to bring in 1,000 or more visitors.

Hawaii Volcano Observatory head Jim Kauahikaua earlier said five people had to be evacuated from the area Tuesday to keep them out of the flowing lava's path, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported Thursday.