Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Friday morning that 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.
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.
The observatory earlier this week downgraded its lava flow threat level from a “warning” to a “watch” after the lower reaches of the June 27 lava flow became inactive.
None of the activity posed an immediate threat to area communities, however, Civil Defense said. The agency will suspend its daily lava flow and eruption update effective Saturday.
“Eruption and flow activity will continue to be monitored by the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the community will be kept informed of any changes or possible threats,” officials said.