America: Hawaii residents flee as Kilauea volcano erupts, destroys 40 buildings

The spewing of lava from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii's Big Island showed no signs of stopping as at least 26 homes have been destroyed in the aftermath of the eruption in Leilani Estates, Hawaii County officials said on Sunday.
"The area continues to be unstable with volcanic venting and related hazards of earthquake and poisonous gases ongoing," the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency said Saturday night, as quoted by CNN.
Geologists say that the ongoing lava outbreak from Kilauea volcano that is inundating Leilani Estates would "continue for some more days and could go on for weeks".
Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder said that the rise of sulphur dioxide levels led to a severe deterioration of air quality and advised all to exercise caution.
Hundreds of residents of Hawaii's Big Island continued to flee as lava and molten rocks, erupted from Kilauea volcano, spewed into the neighbourhoods of the island.
The volcano was the result of the Friday's 6.9 magnitude earthquake.
The earthquake was the most powerful on the island since 1975, the United States Geological Survey said in a statement.
The earthquake led to the opening of cracks in Kilauea volcano's rift zone, an area of fissures, spewing lava near the island's eastern edge and destroying roads, vehicles, and trees in Big Island.
As of Sunday morning, nine volcanic vents had erupted in evacuated neighborhoods on the island, County of Hawaii officials said.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has opened two shelters at the Pahoa and Keaau Community Centers, where some evacuees have gathered and are waiting for the news about their homes.
All residents of Leilani Estates, where around 1,700 people live near the Big Island's eastern edge, and nearby Lanipuna Gardens, have been ordered to evacuate.

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