(USGS) Map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, July 12, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea’s lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

(BIVN) – The day after a channelized ʻaʻā flow west of Kapoho Crater advanced to the ocean, destroying the Kua O Ka La Charter School and Ahalanui County Beach Park, scientists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gave an update during a media conference call.

About an hour after the conference call ended, another collapse/explosion event occurred at the summit of Kilauea Volcano (2:42 p.m.) with energy equal to a magnitude 5.3 earthquake. The event put Hawaii County Civil Defense on alert.

“Previous collapse/explosion events have generated a surge of lava in the lower east rift zone about 2 hours after the collapse which resulted in spillovers of the channel,” civil defense said in a 4 p.m. message. “Be aware that spill overs of the flow channel and other breakouts are possible on the active flow field, do not access the active flow field due to extreme hazard.”

Yesterday’s lava channel spill over destroyed three homes in Leilani Estates.

Today’s USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory update was posted at 10:51 a.m. HST:

Fissure 8 continues to erupt lava into the perched channel leading northeastward from the vent. Lava levels in the upper channel between Fissure 8 and Pohoiki Rd. are low this morning but are expected to rise after the next collapse/explosive vent at Kīlauea summit. Overnight, the diverted channelized ʻaʻā flow west of Kapoho Crater advanced to the ocean destroying the Kua O Ka La Charter School and Ahalanui Count Beach Park and establishing a robust ocean entry. Despite no visible surface connection to the Fissure 8 channel, lava continues to ooze out at several points on the 6 km (3.7 mi) wide flow front into the ocean. Fissure 22 has no visible activity. No other fissures are active.