Volcano erupts in Hawaii, sparking evacuations as lava threatens to engulf homes

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Red ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano after a magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck the Big Island, Thursday, May 3, 2018. (Kevan Kamibayashi/AP)

A volcano in Hawaii erupted on Thursday, sparking mandatory evacuations as red lava spilled onto the roads.

The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island left a plume of smoke hanging in the air around 5 p.m. local time, while aerial videos captured a massive river of lava spewing out onto roadways.

Hawaii County has ordered evacuations for homes in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens Subdivisions in the lower Puna district, according to the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency. .

Lava fountains shot about 150 feet in the air, and molten lava spread out over an area about 200 yards wide behind one house in Leilani Estates, resident Ikaika Marzo told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Sirens are now sounding in Leilani Estates. More drone video shows the fountains of lava in the subdivision. Lava is shooting up then piling up around cracks in the ground. Video from Jeremiah Osuna. https://t.co/YRuq3aGYnhpic.twitter.com/nrSfhyJ0eZ

— Lynn Kawano (@LynnKawano) May 4, 2018

"It sounds like a jet engine. It's going hard," he said.

Gov. David Ige alerted the state's National Guard and tweeted, "I urge residents in Leilani Estates and the surrounding areas to follow instructions from the County of Hawai'i's Civil Defense Agency. Please be alert and prepare now to keep your family safe."

County, state and federal officials had been warning residents all week that they should be prepared to evacuate.

This photo shows the large overflow of a lava lake in Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii's Big Island. (U.S. Gelological Survey/AP)

Hundreds of smaller quakes rocked Hawaii's largest island before a 5.0 magnitude earthquake hit earlier Thursday.

The crater floor of the Puu Oo vent began to collapse on Monday, causing magma to push more than 10 miles downslope toward the populated southeast coastline of the island.

New ground cracks were reported Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Hot vapor emerged from a crack and spattering lava began to erupt.

Scientists said areas downslope of the erupting vent were at risk of being covered by lava. Leilani Estates appeared to be at greatest risk, but scientists said new vents and outbreaks could occur and it's not possible to say where.