Hawaii County Civil Defense is urging residents in the Puna community,  to get out now and has sounded warning sirens.

Two emergency shelters have been opened — one at Pahoa Community Center and the Keaau Community Center.

Hawaii County said steam and lava poured out of a crack in Leilani Estates, which is near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has signed an emergency proclamation after Kilauea Volcano erupted  a lava flow emerged in the residential neighbourhood.

There are about 770 structures in the subdivision where lava is flowing onto the streets on the Big Island. Molten lava spread out over an area nearly 200 metres wide behind one house in Leilani Estates

A statement released by the governor’s office says the “danger is of such magnitude that it warrants preemptive and protective action in order to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the residents.”

Footage shown on local television showed lava spurting into the sky from a crack in a road. Aerial drone footage showed a line of lava snaking through a forest.

The phenomenon  followed dozens of small earthquakes that hit the area over the past few days, alarming scientists of a possible volcanic eruption.

Nearby community centers have opened for shelter.

Image: Wikipedia