The Latest: 26 homes, 4 other structures destroyed by lava

PAHOA, Hawaii (AP) — The Latest on a volcanic eruption on the Big Island of Hawaii (all times local):

The number of homes destroyed by Hawaii's Kilauea volcano jumped to 26 as scientists reported lava spewing more than 200 feet (61 meters) into the air.

In revised figures, Hawaii County officials said Sunday another four unspecified structures were covered by lava.

U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Wendy Stovall says lava flows are continuing from the only active fissure, though the total of open vents has ticked up to 10.

Officials say 31 homes have now been destroyed in Hawaii by lava flowing from Kilauea volcano.

The update came as a window for residents of Leilani Estates to briefly return to their homes to gather essential items was about to end.

Officials said molten rock, toxic gas and steam have been bursting through openings in the ground created by the volcano.

U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Wendy Stovall says lava could eventually be channeled to one powerful vent while others go dormant, as has happened in some previous Hawaii eruptions.

Stovall says there is no indication when the lava flow may stop.

Officials say 26 homes have now been destroyed in Hawaii by lava flowing from Kilauea volcano.

U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Wendy Stovall says lava could eventually be channeled to one powerful vent while others go dormant, as has happened in some previous Hawaii eruptions.

Lava has spread around 387,500 square feet (36,000 square meters) surrounding the most active fissure, though the rate of movement is slow.

Officials said molten rock, toxic gas and steam have been bursting through openings in the ground created by the volcano.

Stovall says there is no indication when the lava flow may stop.

Officials say 21 homes have now been destroyed in Hawaii by lava flowing from Kilauea volcano, based on an aerial survey by the fire department.

Residents of Leilani Estates are still being allowed to briefly return to gather medicines, pets and other essentials.

No children are allowed in the area.

Officials said molten rock, toxic gas and steam have been bursting through openings in the ground created by the volcano.

A single mother of two says she is devastated that her Big Island home was burned to the ground by a lava flow.

Amber Makuakane confirmed to the AP on Sunday that her property in Leilani Estates is one of at least nine that officials say was destroyed by Kilauea volcano.

The 37-year-old elementary school teacher says her three-bedroom house was right across from a fissure that had opened Friday. She says there was some steam rising from all parts of the yard initially but everything looked fine.

But she received alerts Saturday that motion sensors throughout the house had been triggered. She later confirmed that lava had covered her entire property.

Makuakane grew up in the area, and despite the risks, wanted to remain close to her family.

Officials on Hawaii's Big Island say what started out as a small spattering of lava from the ground only took minutes to become cascading fountains.

U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Wendy Stovall says lava fountains spewed as high as 230 feet (70 meters) into the air Saturday night only 15 minutes after the initial eruption from a new fissure.

Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder says only one fissure has active lava flowing, though at last count a total of nine vents had opened up as of 9:30 p.m.

Snyder says it's all part of a little chain of events and that these "breakouts" are following a path.

She says the plan remains to allow some evacuated residents to return to Leilani Estates to retrieve important items, though that is subject to change.

Officials in Hawaii now say nine homes have been destroyed by lava flowing from Kilauea volcano.

Big Island civil defense officials also said Sunday morning two new fissures, or vents where lava has broken through the ground, have emerged in the Leilani Estates subdivision.

That brings the total of fissures to 10 since the eruption began late Thursday afternoon, but a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey says one of those vents has gone dormant.

Officials say active venting of lava and dangerous levels of volcanic gases continue between two main roads in the subdivision, where more than 1,700 people have been ordered to evacuate.

Officials say some residents will be allowed to complete evacuation of pets, get medicine and grab vital documents.

The number of homes destroyed by lava bursting out of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has climbed to five.

The figure rose as many evacuees prepared for the eruption to last for weeks or even months.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said eight volcanic vents opened in the Big Island residential neighborhood of Leilani Estates since Thursday. The vents initially spewed lava but had calmed down by late Saturday and were only releasing steam and gas.

Scientists say Kilauea is likely to release more lava through more vents, but they're unable to forecast exactly where the lava will appear.

The Leilani Estates area is at the greatest risk for more lava outbreaks.

Hawaii County has ordered more than 1,700 people to evacuate Leilani Estates and neighboring Lanipuna Gardens.</s>Hawaiian authorities are urging sightseers to stay away as Leilani Estates residents return to check on their neighborhood, which is threatened by lava and toxic gases emerging from fissures in the subdivision.

Big Island’s Kilauea volcano erupted Thursday, spewing molten rock and high levels of sulfur dioxide.

Cracks emerged in the volcano’s East Rift Zone — an area of fissures miles away from the volcano’s summit. All residents of Leilani Estates, a community of about 1,700 people near Big Island’s eastern edge, and nearby Lanipuna Gardens were ordered to evacuate.

The eruption was followed by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake Friday.

So far, at least 35 structures have been destroyed, Hawaii’s Civil Defense said on Monday. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that active venting of lava and hazardous fumes continued.

The Kilauea volcano has been erupting almost continuously since 1983, according to the US Geological Survey. Activity along the East Rift Zone has shifted down and then back up the rift, said CNN meteorologist Michael Guy. Each one of the episodes that has occurred in this 35-year period has lasted months to years, so there’s no definitive way to predict how the volcanic activity will last, Guy said.

Residents return briefly

Some Leilani Estates residents were able to return to their properties from Sunday to retrieve pets, medicine and vital documents.

Sunday evening, Civil Defense said Leilani residents would be able to check on their properties until further notice between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time, with authorities on the scene determining which areas were safe to enter.

“Please be aware that because of unstable conditions that involve toxic gas, earthquakes and lava activities, lines of safety can change at any time. You must be prepared to leave areas if required,” it said in a statement.

“Please, the residents of Leilani need your help. This is not the time for sightseeing. You can help tremendously by staying out of the area,” Civil Defense said, warning that police had established a policy of zero tolerance towards looting or vandalism.

“Under Emergency Provisions, any looting or vandalism will be treated as a felony,” the statement said.

Volcanic gases at Lanipuna Gardens meant residents did not have access to that neighborhood, it said.

Dangerous volcanic gases

The eruptions have released high levels of sulfur dioxide into the air, according to the civil defense agency. The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says the gas can be life-threatening.

Breathing large amounts of sulfur dioxide can result in burning of the nose and throat, and breathing difficulties. Senior citizens, the young and people with respiratory issues are especially vulnerable to the gas, the state’s Emergency Management Agency said.

The Hawaii Department of Health has warned consumers that no masks sold to the general public in stores will protect against “the extremely dangerous volcanic gases” being released.

“First responders require special masks and training not available to private citizens,” the department said in a statement Sunday.

“The best way to protect yourself and your family from the extremely dangerous volcanic gases is to leave the immediate area of the volcano defined by the police and fire department,” it said.

Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Talmadge Magno told CNN affiliate KHON Saturday that some first responders had been affected by the gasses on the first night when levels were particularly high — experiencing “headaches and so forth” — but that they had recovered.

The American Red Cross has opened two shelters at the Pahoa and Keaau Community Centers, where some evacuees have gathered while they await news about their homes.

Mayor Harry Lim said on Twitter Sunday that an eruption information center would open in Pahoa Monday to address questions from those affected.

The Hawaii State Department of Education said that all public schools on Big Island would be open Monday but that students absent due to evacuations would not be penalized. It said in a statement that school buildings had been checked for earthquake damage and found to be safe.

Uncertainty

Corey Hale is one of the residents staying at the Pahoa Community Center. She was originally staying with a friend, but later chose to camp out in the parking lot.

“I wanted to be around a lot of people,” Hale said. “It just felt better.” Volunteers there have kept evacuees safe, well-fed and have plenty of hot coffee ready in the mornings.

Still, Hale wishes she’d been able to get more things from her home in Lanipuna Gardens before she left, like a compass that belonged to her great-grandfather, and other family heirlooms.

“At this point, I’ve got what I’ve got on my back,” she said. “I didn’t realize until this morning, I’ve got one pair of shoes.”

Meantime, Leilani resident Shirley Doctor was able to return briefly to her house of 38 years Sunday.

Doctor told CNN affiliate KITV that her sons had invited friends to help her pack up.

“I came home to get my dogs, that was the most important thing. My dogs and my pig … Everything else is just material,” Doctor said.

Another resident, Steve Gebbie, told CNN’s Stephanie Elam on Saturday that he initially stayed home when evacuations were ordered. But when he saw lava tear through the streets near his Leilani Estates home, he knew he needed to leave.

He didn’t know what would become of his house, one he built with his own hands.

“Now it’s trying to figure out what the future brings. … My work. My job. Am I going to have to move to somewhere else on the island?”

“I’d have to start over at age 56,” Gebbie said. “That’s concerning.”

What’s important

Jordan Sonner has been staying with a friend since she fled her home right outside Leilani Estates.

When Sonner bought her property in 2016, she knew the neighborhood sat in the shadow of the Kilauea volcano.

She was also aware that one day the volcano could erupt, Sonner said, and lava could overtake the area. But she was more excited about her home and being a first-time homeowner.

“At the time, I understood it as a possibility,” she said. But she never thought it would be a reality.

Sonner was at work this week when she heard that lava had erupted in her neighborhood.

“It was a moment of panic,” she said, “because the only thing I knew was, ‘lava in Leilani.'”

After Hawaii’s false ballistic missile alert in January, Sonner realized she didn’t have an emergency plan. “I took that to heart, and I got myself and my dogs prepared just in case something were to happen.”

This time she was ready. She had bags packed with her clothes, important documents and whatever her dogs would need. The only other item she took was a chain necklace that belonged to her late father.

“I’ve always said that’s the only thing I would run back into a burning building for, barring people and animals,” she said. “There wasn’t anything that important.”</s>Lava erupting from Hawaii’s powerful Kilauea volcano has now destroyed at least 26 homes, more than double the previous figure, officials announced Sunday, citing grim findings from an aerial survey by the fire department.

Scientists reported lava spewing more than 200 feet into the air. More than 1,700 people have evacuated, and some said they may have to stay away from their homes for a long time.

Earlier in the day, officials had said the lava destroyed nine homes.

Big Island civil defense officials also said Sunday that two new fissures, or vents where lava has broken through the ground, have emerged in the Leilani Estates subdivision.

“There’s more magma in the system to be erupted. As long as that supply is there, the eruption will continue,” U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Wendy Stovall said.

As many as 10 fissures have opened up since the eruption started late Thursday afternoon, scientists said, adding that one of those vents has gone dormant.

Among the people whose homes were destroyed: an elementary school teacher and single mother of two. The woman, Amber Makuakane, told The Associated Press her three-bedroom house was right across from a fissure that had opened Friday. She says there was some steam rising from all parts of the yard initially but everything looked fine.

She also said she knew the volcano’s risks, but wanted to stay close to her family. Her children’s ages are 6 and 4.

A fellow teacher started a fundraising page to help Makuakane and her family rebuild.

Some people who evacuated will be allowed to return to pick up pets, medicine and vital documents, officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>PAHOA, Hawaii (CNN) — Lava and hazardous fumes are still spewing on Hawaii’s Big Island on Monday, four days after the Kilauea volcano erupted.

By Monday morning, 35 structures — including at least 26 homes — had been destroyed, Hawaii Civil Defense said.

Authorities are now pleading with tourists and sightseers to avoid Leilani Estates, where lava and fumes are bursting through giant cracks in the ground.

“Please, the residents of Leilani need your help,” Hawaii Civil Defense said. “This is not the time for sightseeing. You can help tremendously by staying out of the area.”

Even longtime residents on Big Island are astonished by the magnitude of this destruction.

“It’s nothing that I’ve ever experienced on a personal level ever before,” said Jessica Ferracane, a spokesperson for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Even worse, cracks emerged in the volcano’s East Rift Zone — an area of fissures miles away from the volcano’s summit.

All 1,700 residents of Leilani Estates, as well as nearby Lanipuna Gardens, were ordered to evacuate.

But now they have another fear: frequent earthquakes after the eruption.

“That’s the big concern for everybody on the island,” Ferracane said Monday. “The earthquakes continued through the night.”

After a 6.9 magnitude quake struck Friday, Big Island has endured an average of one earthquake per hour.

Some Leilani Estates residents were able to return home to retrieve pets, medicine and vital documents.

But even a quick visit home could be dangerous.

“Please be aware that because of unstable conditions that involve toxic gas, earthquakes and lava activities, lines of safety can change at any time,” Hawaii Civil Defense said. “You must be prepared to leave areas if required.”

Is there such a thing as volcano insurance in Hawaii?

The Hawaii State Department of Education said all public schools on Big Island are open Monday, but that students absent due to evacuations would not be penalized. It said school buildings had been checked for earthquake damage and found to be safe.

The eruptions have released high levels of sulfur dioxide into the air, and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says the gas can be life-threatening.

Breathing large amounts of sulfur dioxide can result in burning of the nose and throat, and breathing difficulties. Senior citizens, the young and people with respiratory issues are especially vulnerable to the gas, the state’s Emergency Management Agency said.

The Hawaii Department of Health has warned consumers that no masks sold to the general public in stores will protect against “the extremely dangerous volcanic gases” being released.

“First responders require special masks and training not available to private citizens,” the department said in a statement Sunday.

“The best way to protect yourself and your family from the extremely dangerous volcanic gases is to leave the immediate area of the volcano defined by the police and fire department,” it said.

The American Red Cross has opened two shelters at the Pahoa and Keaau Community Centers, where some evacuees have gathered while they await news about their homes.

Resident Steve Gebbie initially stayed home when evacuations were ordered. But when he saw lava tear through the streets near his Leilani Estates home, he knew he needed to leave.

He didn’t know what would become of his house, one he built with his own hands.

“Now it’s trying to figure out what the future brings. … My work. My job. Am I going to have to move to somewhere else on the island?” Gebbie asked.

“I’d have to start over at age 56. That’s concerning.”

Corey Hale said she wishes she had been able to get more things from her home in Lanipuna Gardens before she left — like a compass that belonged to her great-grandfather.

“At this point, I’ve got what I’ve got on my back,” she said. “I didn’t realize until this morning, I’ve got one pair of shoes.”

When Jordan Sonner bought her property in 2016, she knew the neighborhood sat in the shadow of the Kilauea volcano.

She was also aware that one day the volcano could erupt, Sonner said, and lava could overtake the area. But she was more excited about her home and being a first-time homeowner.

“At the time, I understood it as a possibility,” she said. But she never thought it would be a reality.

Sonner was at work this week when she heard that lava had erupted in her neighborhood.

“It was a moment of panic,” she said, “because the only thing I knew was, ‘lava in Leilani.'”

After Hawaii’s false ballistic missile alert in January, Sonner realized she didn’t have an emergency plan. “I took that to heart, and I got myself and my dogs prepared just in case something were to happen.”

This time she was ready. She had bags packed with her clothes, important documents and whatever her dogs would need. The only other item she took was a chain necklace that belonged to her late father.

“I’ve always said that’s the only thing I would run back into a burning building for, barring people and animals,” she said. “There wasn’t anything that important.”</s>Hawaii officials on Sunday upped the number of destroyed homes to "at least 9" in the wake of last week's eruption of the Kilauea volcano.

The news was revealed in a 8:15 a.m. update from Hawaii County.

"Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirms 2 more fissures emerged between Leilani and Malama Street near Luana and Kupono Street last night, bringing the total number of fissures to 9 at this time," it also said.

Fissures are vents through which lava is emitted from the volcano.

The Kilauea volcano erupted Thursday. The area also has been affected by extremely high levels of sulfur gas, and by several earthquakes, including one that hit on Friday at a magnitude of 6.9.

The Leilani Estates subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island has been affected by the eruption and subsequent earthquakes.

"Conditions permitting, Leilani Estates residents with property between Highway 130 and Maile Street will be allowed to enter the subdivision to complete evacuation of pets, medicine and vital documents left behind between the hours of 8 AM to 6 PM," Hawaii County officials said Sunday morning.

"I have no idea how soon we can get back," Todd Corrigan, a resident of the Leilani Estates subdivision, said.

He said he and his wife left Friday as lava burst through the ground three or four blocks from their home. They spent the night on the beach in their car and began looking for a vacation rental.

HAWAII’S KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTS, MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ORDERED FOR MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE

Fox News' Zoe Szathmary and The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>Emergency crews are on standby to evacuate more people as the number of volcanic fissures - cracks in the earth through which lava and toxic gases escape - grew to 12. Hawaii Civic Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno told a community meeting on Tuesday: "If things get dicey, you've got to get out. ”If you live in the surrounding communities ... be prepared. Evacuation could come at any time." Some 35 structures have been destroyed so far since the volcanic eruption, with the majority of fissures appearing in Leilani Estates, situated 12 miles east of the volcano.

Around 1,700 people living in Leilani Estates on Big Island have already been evacuated along with people living in nearby area Lanipuna Gardens. The maps below show the areas affected - but there are fears that this evacuation zone will expand as the number of fissures spread. Resident Heide Austin said she left her home just west of the current eruption zone after noticing small cracks appearing at the end of her driveway. The 77-year-old said one eruption near her home "sounded like a huge blowtorch going off”.

Some residents were allowed to return home temporarily on Sunday and Monday to rescue pets and retrieve personal belongings following a lull in seismic activity. But Lunipuna Gardens residents were barred by Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency officials due to the prevalence of “dangerous volcanic gases”. Is it safe to travel to Hawaii? The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated their travel warning for the area today.

It states: “There has been volcanic eruption on Hawaii’s Big Island and some local residents have been evacuated. “British nationals in the area should monitor local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. “To learn more about what to do before, during and after a volcano, visit the Federal Emergency Management website.” Some flight operators, including Virgin and British Airways, are continuing to fly tourists to the islands as many of the popular tourist spots on other Hawaiian islands remain unaffected.

Hawaii Tourist Authority released a statement on May 4 in which assured travellers that it was still safe to travel to the country. It said “the impact is limited to a remote region on the east side far away from the rest of the Hawaiian Islands”. Further down in the statement, the authority’s president and CEO George D. Szigeti added: “No flights into airports anywhere in Hawaii are being impacted by Kilauea volcano and the area where the lava is coming to the surface is very far from resorts areas throughout the Hawaiian Islands where visitor accommodations are located. “Travelers can enjoy their vacation experience in the Hawaiian Islands to the fullest, with the only the word of caution that they stay out of areas closed to the public for their own safety.”</s>Fiery rivers of black, chunky lava continue to creep across Hawaii’s Big Island after the eruption of the Kilauea volcano — a blast responsible for the destruction of more than two dozen homes and the evacuation of hundreds of people.

According to Hawaiian officials, there’s no indication when the lava flow will stop.

“There’s no sign of slowing down,” Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said Sunday. “We had some pauses yesterday, but it seems like there’s a lot of magma under the ground.”

So far, lava has spread around 387,500 square feet surrounding the most active fissure.

“There’s more magma in the system to be erupted. As long as that supply is there, the eruption will continue,” U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Wendy Stovall said.

Here’s everything we know about the Hawaii volcano eruption.

When did the eruption start?

The Kilauea volcano erupted May 3 — days after earthquakes rocked the Puna district of the Big Island.

The crater floor began to collapse April 30, triggering earthquakes and pushing lava into new underground chambers that carried it toward nearby communities. A magnitude-6.9 earthquake — Hawaii’s largest in more than 40 years — hit the area on May 4.

Lava then began to slowly flow through the Leilani Estates subdivision, destroying dozens of homes. There are about 770 structures in the neighborhood.

What do we know about the Kilauea volcano?

Kilauea is one of five volcanoes on Hawaii. It’s the youngest, southernmost and among the most active volcanoes on the island, according to the USGS.

For a while, some thought the volcano was just a part of the Mauna Loa volcano.

“However, research over the past few decades shows clearly that Kīlauea has its own magma-plumbing system, extending to the surface from more than” 37 miles deep, the USGS explains on its website.

HAWAII’S VOLCANIC ERUPTION HAS DESTROYED AT LEAST 26 HOMES, OFFICIALS SAY

In the past 66 years, the volcano has erupted a shocking 34 times. Most of Kilauea’s activity has been nonexplosive, but a 1924 eruption spewed ash and 10-ton rocks into the sky, leaving one man dead.

At least 11 fissures have opened up since Kilauea started spilling out lava.

So, what exactly is a fissure? A fissure is an opening or crack in the ground that’s created by the volcano, allowing molten rock, toxic gas and steam to burst through the opening.

“On volcanoes, a fissure is an elongate fracture or crack at the surface from which lava erupts. Fissure eruptions typically dwindle to a central vent after a period of hours or days,” the USGS says.

How many people have been evacuated?

More than 1,700 residents living in Leilani Estates have been evacuated. Hawaii Gov. David Ige also mobilized the Hawaii National Guard to assist with evacuations and security.

“Authorities on scene will determine what areas will be safe for [residents] to enter. Please be aware that because of unstable conditions that involve toxic gas, earthquakes and lava activities, lines of safety can change at any time,” the Hawaii County Civil Defense said in an online statement May 6.

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS LIKE THE ONE IN HAWAII, ARE NOT NATURAL DISASTERS — WITHOUT THEM THE EARTH WOULD EXPLODE

Residents can stay up-to-date with warnings, closures and other information by signing up for alerts here.

How long will the eruption continue?

Volcano officials in Hawaii say there is no way to predict how long this latest eruption on Kilauea volcano will continue. Asta Miklius, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory, says how long it will last will depend on whether the summit magma reservoir gets involved.

How can I help?

Instead of dropping off food or other items in-person at local shelters, officials ask you to call the Salvation Army to see what residents need and how to help: 808-756-0306

The American Red Cross of Hawaii is also accepting donations and explains how you can help on its website. The Red Cross said on Twitter that it has opened a shelter at Keaau Community Center.

According to Hawaii News Now, locals have also set up a makeshift shelter along Highway 130 for those who wish to drop off products for evacuees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>"The East Rift Zone eruption in Leilani Subdivision continues. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirms that although volcanic activity has subsided, hazardous fumes continue in Leilani Estates Subdivision," the alert said on Monday. "Since the onset of this eruption, a total of 10 fissures have emerged, and 35 structures have been destroyed."

At least 26 of those structures are homes, but the agency did not specify the other nine structures that fell victim to the lava. On Sunday, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said the lava showed no sign of slowing down.

"Overnight, active emission of lava and spatter at multiple fissures was minimal. This is likely only a pause in activity; additional outbreaks or a resumption of activity are anticipated as seismicity continues in the area," the observatory said in a statement.

Magno said that not all residents adhered to the evacuation orders. He put the number of people staying behind in the affected subdivisions at "less than a dozen."

On Friday, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, the strongest in Hawaii since 1975, led to the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and temporarily knocked out power, affecting about 14,000 customers, according to electric utility company Hawaii Electric Light Co. Kilauea volcano, which has been erupting continuously since 1983 and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, has shown signs of increased activity over the past week, causing hundreds of small earthquakes.

Following the opening of the first lava vent on Thursday, Hawaii Gov. David Ige activated the Hawaii National Guard to support emergency and evacuation efforts, which have so far affected of 1,700 residents. He also signed an emergency proclamation, which authorizes "the expenditure of state monies as appropriated for quick and efficient relief caused by the volcanic eruption," according to the governor’s office.

Hawaii County Civil Defense said that county, state and federal partners will continue to monitor the situation and inform the public should further safety concerns arise. The US Geological Service said that eruptions and earthquakes could continue for months. Hawaii gained US statehood in 1959.</s>The texts and calls to John Tarson, a tour operator in Hawaii who has taken thousands of visitors to see lava flowing from the Kilauea volcano over the years, began soon after last week's spectacular eruptions.

There were expressions of concern for the residents on the island's eastern edge who were forced to flee their homes, and about his own safety. There were exclamations of fear and awe at the lava spreading across the land. And then, some version of the question: "Can we go watch?"

To those, Tarson, 37, had an easy response; Business was closed. "At this point our efforts are all going to be to help the community that is suffering losses."

The natural wonder that is the Kilauea volcano is the main attraction of Hawaii's Big Island, with nearly all of its 2 million annual visitors making a stop in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. But as the volcano and the surrounding area transformed into a natural disaster, leaving almost three dozen structures destroyed, residents, officials and tourists alike wrestled with its dual nature.

Twelve fissures have emerged, sending lava into the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, where about 1,800 people live. Last week, Hawaii County ordered the subdivisions evacuated. Thirty-five structures have been destroyed, according to the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency. No deaths or injuries have been reported.

The authorities began allowing residents of Leilani Estates to retrieve their belongings Sunday, while Lanipuna Gardens remained closed because of dangerous volcanic gases.

The island has been hit by hundreds of earthquakes in recent days, and more aftershocks were expected, officials said.

Heath Dalton, who lives in Leilani Estates and was evacuated Friday, returned to his home Sunday morning. He drove a truck and trailer, planning to pick up possessions that he had packed earlier. Instead, he found his home engulfed.

He called two neighbours to tell them their houses were gone. "I look at mine and I can see my house burning," said Dalton, who was unharmed. "At that point I called my wife and said, 'There's no reason for you to come; there's nothing to get.'"</s>The volcanic activity of this fiery mountain has been underway non-stop since 1983, but took a turn for the more dangerous after a series of earthquakes culminated in a magnitude 6.9 quake last week. The number of structures destroyed by the volcanic eruption has reached 35 - of these 26 are homes. Highway 130, the main road to and from the area, has been seriously damaged, with lava beginning to ooze from the cracks in the tar left behind from the earthquakes. Dramatic footage shows the lava cutting through everything in its path, including houses and cars.

There is of course massive damage to the land around the fissures, large portions of which fall within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The area worst affected is Leilani Estates - a residential area which has seen 12 fissures open up and spew lava since Friday. All 1,700 residents have been evacuated. Some have been allowed to return home to rescue pets and other essentials, but not for long. Amateur footage has been shared on social media taken by residents showing plumes of smoke and lava so orange it almost ‘looks fake’.

There is also the risk of toxic gasses omitted by the volcano. Hawaii County Civil defence has released a statement saying that volcanic activity has begun to subside, but that hazardous fumes continue to threaten anyone in the area for long periods. Scientists are however forecasting the possibility of more eruptions and earthquakes, which could even last for months to come. Residents and others from nearby areas have joined together to support those who have lost their homes and had to evacuate, and no fatalities or serious injuries have yet been reported.
About 35 structures in Leilani Estates are destroyed during the Kīlauea eruption in Hawaii.