Kilauea Lava Cuts Highway, Heads to Sea
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KALAPANA, Hawaii — A lava flow from Kilauea Volcano crossed Kalapana Bypass Highway on Tuesday for the third time in about four months and headed toward the sea, a Hawaii County Civil Defense spokesman said.
The lava moved slowly to the southeast but no homes were in its path, spokesman Wendell Hatada said.
The highway was closed Monday afternoon when the lava flow moved to within 200 yards. The highway was cut by lava twice late last year and was reopened in February after temporary repairs.
The flow passed about 300 feet to the west of five homes in Kapa’ahu Homesteads, Hatada said.
Forty-four homes in Royal Gardens, Kalapana Gardens and Kapa’ahu Homestead have been destroyed by lava since the east rift zone eruption started on Jan. 3, 1983.
The current phase of the eruption, the 48th, began last July.
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