Lava Flow From Kilauea Volcano Traps 12 Residents in Kapoho Community

Lava flows from the Kilauea volcano have cut off access for the community of Kapoho on Hawaii's Big Island and has left at least 12 people completely trapped, officials said.

Mandatory evacuations were issued for those in Kapoho last week, with officials urging residents to get out before Friday or risk becoming unreachable by rescue crews. According to KITV, those who chose to stay may have to pay the bill for their rescue should they require one. 

Four people were rescued by airlift on Sunday, but Hawaii County Civil Defense officials estimate that at least 12 people were still trapped in the area. In a statement released about the rescue, the U.S. Geological Survey said personnel were on a "routing overflight and saw people on the road in an area cut off by the lava. They stopped to inquire of their situation, and then when asked, airlifted them to a safe place. They had become trapped after trying to move belongings, and had no cell service."

The region now has no power, cell reception, landlines, or county water available, officials added. 

At least 87 homes have been destroyed by lava flows ever since the volcano began erupting on May 3rd. As many as two dozen fissures have opened up since then. Lava flows from the erupting volcano have so far covered an area of 5.5 square miles - or about the size of Los Angeles International Airport.  

The U.S.G.S. added that at over four weeks now, the Kilauea volcano eruption has lasted longer than the two previous eruptions in 1955 and 1924. 

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