A 6.9 earthquake hit the Hawaiian islands, causing more than just shaking. Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano starts its eruption less than a week ago on May 5. Since then the volcanic magma has been flowing through streets and covering cities making many frustrated and anxious residents evacuate their homes immediately. All 1,700 residents of Leilani Estates along with nearby Lanipuna Gardens have been ordered to evacuate, but not all have.

“Some people are not complying,” said Debra Weeks, directer of disaster services at American Red Cross in Hawaii County, regarding evacuation orders. “They’re putting themselves at risk. They’re putting first responders at risk… If you know anyone still out there, encourage them to come in- not only for their own safety, but for the safety of the community.”

Many people gathered at the community center on Monday to discuss the situation coming up with many questions and concerns. “Is this situation going to go on for months?” “Can I  go into my house to retrieve my pet if I wear a gas mask?” No easy way out of these questions with levels of toxic sulfur dioxide and lava ripping through the ground. So far at least 26 homes making 35 structures have been destroyed and  a total of 12 fissures have been formed.

Hawaii county Deputy Fire Chief Renwick Victorino stressed enough that its not only the high levels of sulfur dioxide, but its also the cracks and fissures, “We don’t know when and where its going to happen, until it’s stabilized, I highly suggest staying out of the area.” he said Monday morning at the meeting.

A former resident of the Hawaii islands, Danita Magsam  had some thoughts on the situation currently happening. “I have only lived there for two years but I can tell you, if a volcano were to have erupted while I was living there and I had to evacuate and leave my home I would be very devastated and scared, where am I going to live now, and with what stuff? I thought about them erupting all the time, but never believed they ever would so seeing one actually erupting is kind of mind blowing thinking I could be in that situation.”

This has been the largest earthquake Hawaii had for over 40 years. Lava fountains as high as 100 feet have been shooting through cracks in the streets near homes. As of today, the magma is still flowing through the cities and patience is the only answer to the questions asked.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/lava-from-hawaiis-kilauea-volcano-leaving-a-path-of-destruction/