Breakouts persist in upslope areas of June 27 lava flow

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Hawaii County Civil Defense reports very little activity in the downslope areas of the June 27 lava flow.

However, numerous, but small breakouts persist within the flow pad and along both margins of the flow, extending from about 8 miles upslope of the flow’s stalled leading edges to Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent, Civil Defense said following a Wednesday morning helicopter overflight of the flow.

The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that three areas of breakouts remained active northeast of Puu Oo. One of the breakouts, located on the northern flank of Puu Oo, which started Feb. 21, remained active on the northeastern base of the cone while the northern arm of another breakout near Kahaualea continued to burn trees north of Puu Kahaualea. Breakouts were also observed about 3 to 4 miles northeast of Puu Oo.

None of the activity posed an immediate threat to area communities, however, Civil Defense said.