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Hawaii raises alert warning as lava creeps closer to homes

The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent in the East Rift Zone of the Kilauea Volcano began erupting on January 3, 1983, and has continued for more than 31 years, according to the USGS.

By Aileen Graef
Kilauea volcano/CC: Wikipedia user Hike395
Kilauea volcano/CC: Wikipedia user Hike395

HONOLULU, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Residents of the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island are growing nervous as lava from the Kilauea volcano creeps closer to their homes.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi declared a state of emergency Thursday as the lava is projected to reach the residential area in one week. The lava has been passing through the forest setting of large smoke plumes.

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Officials said the path of the lava is unpredictable due to changes in topography, unmapped obstacles and pocket for the lava to spread.

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