Molten Threat

Lava Flow Closes In on Hawaii Homes

Could hit village in hours.

After weeks of slow movement, a river of asphalt-black lava has moved to less than the length of a football field from homes in a community on Hawaii's Big Island. The lava began flowing from the Kilauea volcano in August, as residents were cleaning up from a tropical storm that made initial landfall over the Puna district, and has been advancing two to 20 yards per hour, depending on topography. The flow is expected to destroy homes and other structures as it passes through Pahoa Village. A branch of the molten stream was less than 100 yards away from a two-story house in the village on Tuesday. Most residents have already left the community or are prepared to go.