Residents of the Ka'ohe Homesteads subdivision on the southern reaches of the Big Island of Hawaii were put on notice of a potentially dangerous lava flow encroaching upon the property. The flow, now less than a mile from Ka'ohe, originates from the famous Kiluaea Volcano, which has been erupting continuously since 1983.

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Officials with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) on the Big Island of Hawaii upgraded a lava watch to a warning, meaning a hazardous lava flow is imminent. The current flow differs from its predecessors in that instead of flowing downhill towards the Pacific Ocean, lava is coursing through a system of cracks and fissures along the surface at a speed of 250 meters (820 feet) a day. It could reach Ka'ohe within a week.

"Due to the threat of disaster due to property damage and/or bodily injury to residents of Hawaii Island, and the need for government agencies and representatives from the private sector to mobilize and provide immediate services to our island residents, a state of emergency is authorized," the HVO said in a statement.

"We are taking this step to ensure our residents have time to prepare their families, their pets, and their livestock for a safe and orderly evacuation from Ka'ohe in the event the flow continues to advance," said Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi.

From space, the glowging lava flow and the charcoal-dark remains around it can clearly be seen. In 1986, the town of Kalapana was wiped out by flows. In 2012, the last house of the Royal Gardens development was destroyed by lava, at the start of the current eruption. Contrary to popular belief, homes are not knowingly built in a flow-route. As lava advances, its front can harden and cool, diverting the molten rock behind it into a new direction.

Residents of Ka'ohe have not yet been ordered to evacuate. The emergency proclamation gives authorities power to restrict access to area roadways crucial for ensuring the safe movement of residents should evacuation become necessary.

TagsKilauea, Kalapana, Ka'ohe, Lava