HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY A large skylight on the Thanksgiving Eve Breakout tube near the top of the Royal Gardens subdivision glowed brightly Friday. The lava is flowing to the left, and small bubbles and other detail can be seen on the surface of the lava stream.

More blasts possible as volcano spews gas

Four days after a Kilauea volcano explosion sent debris over a 75-acre area, the possibility of future small explosions remained on the table while lava continued to flow into the ocean, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said yesterday in an online update.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates at the summit remained at higher than background levels. On Friday the sulfur dioxide emission rate was about 1,200 metric tons a day compared with a background rate of 150-200 metric tons a day. The sulfur dioxide concentration in the air is likely to be hazardous downwind of the vents releasing the gas -- in the southern caldera area, the HVO said.

The National Park Service has closed Crater Rim Drive through the southern caldera area.

Lava flows continued to hold the line on the eastern border. A public viewing area to see the lava flow is open between 2 and 10 p.m. with the last car in at 8 p.m. See www.lavainfo.us for more details.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY Lava continued to flow into the ocean at the Waikupanaha and Ki ocean entry points, sending up white toxic fumes, shown here Friday in a view to the east. The eastern margin of the flow field has not advanced significantly. At the summit, no new explosions have occurred, and sulfur dioxide emission rates and seismic tremor levels continued elevated to several times background levels.