Hawaii County map of Leilani Estates with affected streets highlighted in yellow

(BIVN) – A fast moving lava flow in Leilani Estates is forcing evacuations Sunday night.

In an emergency message issued by Hawaii County Civil Defense, residents on Nohea St and Luana St between Leilani Ave and Kahukai, and Kupono Street between Malama Street and Leilani Avenue are being told they “need to evacuate immediately due to a fast moving lava flow from Fissure 7.”

Fissure 7 has been highly active over the past day, scientists say. At 6:20 p.m., the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported:

Fissure 7 activity is very active, producing a large spatter rampart over 100 feet tall from fountains reaching 150-200 feet. The fountains fed two perched channels — the north channel fed a lava flow that advanced toward pad E of the PGV property and the south channel a flow that was advancing to the southeast along the west border of the fissure 22 flow.

The Fissure 7 north channel fed a flow that advanced into PGV property and approached pad E before it stalled this morning; however, the flow was refreshed by lava from the vent and, about noon, started to advance again covering a portion of pad E and also producing a narrow flow to the north of pad E. These flows continue to be active as of this posting.

Shelters are open at the Pahoa Community Center, Kea’au Community Center and the Sure Foundation Church, civil defense says, adding that shelters are pet friendly.