Lava from Hawaiian volcano eruptions creeps into communities By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 05.09.18 Word Count 657 Level 850L In this May 5, 2018, photo provided by U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who is on active duty Hawaii National Guard deployment, ash from the Puu Oo vent on Kilauea volcano rises into the air, near Pahoa, Hawaii. Hawaii's erupting Kilauea volcano has destroyed homes and forced the evacuations of more than a thousand people. Photo by: U.S. Rep. Tusli Gabbard/ National Guard via AP Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has destroyed 26 homes. The volcano began spewing lava hundreds of feet into the air last week. Lava is melting rock. Some people still have their houses, yet they don't know when they'll be able to live there again. The destroyed homes were in the Leilani Estates neighborhood. It is near Pahoa, Hawaii. Lava, toxic gas and steam have been bursting through openings in the ground created by the volcano. Some of the more than 1,700 people who left were allowed to briefly return. They gathered medicine, pets, and other necessities. They'll be able to return each day if experts believe it is safe. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1
Ground Opens Near Home Amber Makuakane Kane is a 37-year-old teacher and single mother of two. She said her threebedroom house in Leilani Estates was across from an opening that burst Friday, May 4. "There was some steam rising from all parts of the yard, but everything looked fine," Makuakane said. Still, she left. On Saturday, she received messages from her security system that motion sensors in the house had been set off. She later confirmed lava had covered her property. Makuakane grew up in the area and lived in her house for nine years. Her parents live in the same neighborhood. "The volcano and the lava it's always been a part of my life," she said. It is very difficult to have lost her house, but she knows she has to accept it. When Will Lava Flow Stop? Around the busiest opening, lava has spread about 387,500 square feet. This area is roughly one-quarter the size of the U.S. Pentagon. The lava is moving slowly, and there was no sign of when it might stop or how far it might spread. "There's more magma in the system to be erupted. As long as that supply is there, the eruption will continue," said Wendy Stovall about the melting rock. Stovall is a scientist who studies volcanoes with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This group is made up of experts on the environment and its possible dangers. Cherie McArthur wondered what will become of her macadamia nut farm in Lanipuna Gardens, another neighborhood near Leilani Estates. "If we lose our farm, we don't know where we're going to go. You lose your income and you lose your home at the same time," said McArthur, who's had the farm about 20 years. "All you can do is pray and hope and try to get all the information you can." American Red Cross Helping Out About 250 people and 90 pets spent Saturday night at shelters, said the emergency rescue group the American Red Cross. The number of lava openings in the neighborhood has grown to as many as 10, Stovall said, though some have quieted at various points. Scientists expect the openings to keep spewing lava. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2
The lava could flow to one major opening while others go inactive. Stovall said this has happened in some previous Hawaii eruptions. Kilauea (pronounced kill-ah-way-ah) is one of the world's busiest volcanoes. It has been erupting continuously since 1983. The USGS's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory watches the state's volcanoes. It issued a notice in mid-april about signs of pressure building in underground magma. The warning said a new opening could form on the volcano's cone, which is the mountainous part of the volcano. It warned an opening could also happen around the Leilani Estates neighborhood. Lava Flows Toward Communities The volcano's crater floor began to crumble April 30, setting off earthquakes. When the floor fell apart, it pushed lava into new underground chambers. The lava flowed toward Leilani Estates and nearby communities. Noah and Laura Dawn own a business 3 miles downhill from where the lava is spreading. They were clearing out items Sunday, May 6. They planned to move away for a while. "We're just removing all things of value to us and precious things," Noah Dawn said. He worried the lava could spread "real fast." This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3
Quiz 1 Read the list of statements below. 1. The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii has erupted. 2. Gas and steam come up from the ground near the Kilauea volcano. 3. Lava from the Kilauea volcano is destroying homes. 4. Stovall is a scientist who has been studying the Kilauea volcano. Which two statements are MAIN ideas of the article? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 (D) 2 and 4 2 Read the section "Ground Opens Near Home." Which sentence from the section BEST shows that it is risky to live near a volcano? (D) She said her three-bedroom house in Leilani Estates was across from an opening that burst Friday, May 4. On Saturday, she received messages from her security system that motion sensors in the house had been set off. She later confirmed lava had covered her property. "The volcano and the lava it's always been a part of my life," she said. 3 Read the section "When Will Lava Flow Stop?" Which sentence from the section BEST supports the idea that more people might be in danger from the Kilauea volcano? (D) Around the busiest opening, lava has spread about 387,500 square feet. This area is roughly one-quarter the size of the U.S. Pentagon. The lava is moving slowly, and there was no sign of when it might stop or how far it might spread. This group is made up of experts on the environment and its possible dangers. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4
4 Which sentence from the article would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article? Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has destroyed 26 homes. The destroyed homes were in the Leilani Estates neighborhood. About 250 people and 90 pets spent Saturday night at shelters, said the emergency rescue group the American Red Cross. (D) The number of lava openings in the neighborhood has grown to as many as 10, Stovall said, though some have quieted at various points. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5