Lava from erupting Hawaii volcano crawls toward homes

KAILUA-KONA Hawaii (Reuters) - A stream of lava from the Kilauea volcano slithered across fields, burning grass and other vegetation, as it closed in on a village on Hawaii's Big Island on Tuesday with the nearest home only 70 yards (64 meters) away.

Residents in the path of the slow-moving lava flow were told to be ready to evacuate and education officials said they would close an elementary school endangered by the lava on Wednesday and temporarily shutter four more schools on Thursday.

The lava has been advancing at an average, albeit inconsistent, speed of 5 to 10 yards per hour.

The glowing, leading edge of the lava flow, which scientists said had narrowed to about 55 yards (50 meters) wide by Monday, already has overrun a cemetery and a road on its path toward Pahoa village, a historic former sugar plantation consisting of small shops and homes with a population of about 800 people.

"We're a resilient community so we'll get through this," said Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a small business owner and county council election candidate. "But as a mom, I'm uneasy, anxious and fearful."

The flow first bubbled out of the continuously erupting Kilauea on June 27 and came to a standstill in late September before resuming its meandering trudge several weeks ago. It has moved about 275 yards (251 meters) since Sunday morning.

The lava has triggered methane explosions as it advances, likely due to decomposing vegetation that produces pools of the gas under the surface, said Janet Babb, a geologist and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, crews have been building temporary access roads and trying to protect Highway 130, a route traveled by as many as 10,000 cars a day. Two other roads have been closed, Mayor Billy Kenoi's office said.

The Kilauea volcano has erupted from its Pu'u O'o vent since 1983. The last home destroyed by lava on the Big Island was in Kalapana in 2012, according to Big Island Civil Defense.

Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said residents whose homes may be destroyed by the lava will be allowed into the restricted area to take photos and video for insurance purposes.

(Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Writing by Curtis Skinner; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Bill Trott)