Hawaiian Volcano Continues Rampage in Housing Area

KALAPANA, Hawaii —  Lava from Kilauea Volcano rolled slowly through a rural housing area on the island of Hawaii and destroyed two more homes early Wednesday, a civil defense official said.

The destruction followed a rampage Tuesday when red-hot lava burned five houses in the Kalapana Gardens settlement on the southeast side of the island about 200 miles from Honolulu.

“Lava destroyed the 18th home in Kalapana Gardens since April 18 and brought the number destroyed since the Kilauea eruption began in January, 1983, to 98,” Hawaii County Civil Defense Assistant Administrator Bruce Butts said.

Lava inundated the intersection of Highway 137, also known as Old Government Road, and Kalapana Avenue, the major north-south thoroughfare that bisects the rural settlement.