June 5 (UPI) — Lava from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano destroyed more homes Tuesday, including the residence of Hawai’i County Mayor Harry Kim, emergency officials said.
Kim’s second home in Vacationland was added to 117 homes destroyed by lava as of the latest official count, a number Hawai’i County Civil Defense spokeswoman Janet Snyder expects to rise, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
“Harry had a premonition this was going to happen,” Snyder said. “Vacationland is almost totally destroyed.”
No injuries were reported in relation to the lava flowing from the volcano.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported high levels of earthquake activity were near Kilauea’s summit late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, including a magnitude-5.5 earthquake at 4:32 a.m., which produced a plume of lava 1,000 feet above the summit.
Vigorous eruption of lava from Kilauea’s lower East Rift Zone also was reported, including lava fountaining at Fissure 8 between 130 feet and 160 feet.
Fissure 8 has produced Pele’s hair and other forms of lightweight volcanic glass, which can cause skin and eye irritation.
As a result of the eruption activity, Government Beach Road between Kahakai Boulevard and Cinder Road was opened to only Waa Waa and Papaya Farms Road residents with official credentials, according to Kim’s office.
