(USGS) This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 am on Tuesday, July 17. The fountain at Fissure 8 remains active, with the lava flow entering the ocean. The dominant ocean entry was on the new lobe that reached the sea near Ahalanui last week. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. The thermal map was constructed by stitching many overlapping oblique thermal images collected by a handheld thermal camera during a helicopter overflight of the flow field. The base is a copyrighted color satellite image (used with permission) provided by Digital Globe.

(BIVN) – Additional structures were destroyed in Leilani Estates this morning, as an increase in lava from Fissure 8 produced an overflow of the channel.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported another collapse / explosion event at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano at 1:28 AM HST on July 18. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a Magnitude 5.3 earthquake. Field crews were in the field and ready to make observations, expecting a possible surge in lava on the lower East Rift Zone, as has been observed following past summit collapse / explosions.

Two hours later, an increase in lava from Fissure 8 was observed. “This increase has produced a small overflow threatening homes on Nohea street and additional overflows downstream on both sides of the channel,” USGS reported.

At 6 a.m., Hawaii County Civil Defense reported additional structures were destroyed in Leilani Estates.

Also, Fissure 8 continues to produce a channel flow to the ocean at Ahalanui, where lava is entering the ocean and producing a large laze plume. The flow is slowly moving south towards Pohoiki. On the water this morning, Ikaika Marzo estimated that lava is about 100 yards away from the first pavilion on the Kapoho-side.

UPDATE: The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory posted the following update at 11:23 a.m. HST:

Fissure 8 continues to erupt lava into the perched channel leading northeastward from the vent. An increase in lava supply overnight produced several channel overflows threatening homes on Nohea street and additional overflows downstream on both sides of the channel. The overflows had stalled by mid-morning. South of Kapoho Crater, the surge produced an ʻaʻā flow that rode over the active southern flow that is still entering the ocean. The southern margin of the flow is located about 700 m (0.4 mi) from the boat ramp at Isaac Hale Park this morning. Despite no visible surface connection to the fissure 8 channel, lava continues to ooze out at a few points on the 6 km (3.7 mi) wide flow front into the ocean.