ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tourists stood as close as seven feet from a lava flow from Kilauea Volcano as it headed for the ocean Saturday. Lava covered a previously untouched section of Chain of Craters Road at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park yesterday.
Kilauea lava hits VOLCANO, Hawaii >> Lava from Kilauea Volcano yesterday crossed one of the last remaining sections of road that had been untouched by previous flows.
old part of road
Chain of Craters Road
had portions covered
by previous flowsBy Janis L. Magin
Associated PressPrevious lava flows have covered Chain of Craters Road along the ocean to the east and west, leaving one small section untouched. The section of road is less than a mile long.
But at 8:20 a.m., lava touched the road and by 11:10 a.m. had completely covered the section as it continued its flow to the sea, said David Jordan, a photographer who was one of three people who viewed the lava crossing yesterday morning.
The lava then went down a set of steps that pedestrians once used to view the lava at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Nearby, a lava bench, an area of new, unstable land created by cooled lava, collapsed into the ocean, sending a large steam cloud into the air.
"We heard it, turned around and saw a giant plume in the air," Jordan said.
Fewer than two dozen visitors were out hiking around the lava flows early yesterday, but by midday a line of cars had started to build up at park entrances.
Volcanoes National Park officials have said about 3,000 to 4,000 people have visited each day in recent weeks.
This latest eruption has been drawing tourists since Mother's Day but has received increased attention since the lava crossed Chain of Craters Road at the end of last month, giving viewers an up-close look.
Park rangers warn about the dangers of sulfuric fumes, unstable lava and scalding water sprays from where lava enters the ocean. The rangers say medics have treated numerous visitors who have tripped or fallen on the jagged lava.
Lava has been pouring out of Kilauea for more than 19 years. The latest massive breakout began May 12 and reached the ocean in late July.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
