Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, one of the most active in the world, erupted on Thursday, ejecting lava through large cracks to a residential area and forcing authorities to order the evacuation of thousands of people.
Governor David Ige declared a state of emergency to be able to mobilize all the services and emergency funds of the State linked to natural catastrophes.
Images from local media showed lava flows meandering through the forests, while the archipelago's Civil Defense agency reported on "emissions of steam and lava from a crack in the Leilani subdivision in the Mohala Street area" followed by explosions and ordered all residents to leave the affected area.
Some 700 buildings and 1,700 people are subject to mandatory evacuations, Cindy McMillan, spokeswoman for Ige, told source. AFP.