Closely watched Hawaii lava flow stalls
Lava that's threatening rural communities on Hawaii's Big Island has stalled.
Hawaii County Civil Defense said Monday the surface flow hasn't advanced in the past 24 hours.
County spokesman Kevin Dayton says officials aren't attributing any significance to the lack of activity as it is common for lava to stop and start or move in unexpected directions. The lava slowed considerably over the weekend.
Dayton says it appears this is the first time it's stalled since the public was warned of the approaching lava from Kilauea (kih-luh-WAY'-uh) volcano about a month ago.
Meanwhile, work is expected to be completed by Wednesday to turn two defunct, unpaved roads into alternate routes if the lava crosses a major highway. Dayton says the alternate routes won't open until necessary.
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This Sept. 17, 2014 photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows an active lava lake inside a crater at the summit of the Kilauea volcano in Pahoa, Hawaii. The volcano's slow-moving lava has reached a vacant lot in a rural subdivision but it's expected to bypass homes. Scientists continue to monitor the lava's progress and estimate that it could reach a major road in less than two weeks. (AP Photo/U.S. Geological Survey) -
This Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the leading tip of the flow, which was moving through thick forest, from the June 27th flow from the Kilauea volcano passing near the Kaohe Homesteads in Pahoa, Hawaii. On Wednesday, the lava had advanced about 350 yards from the previous day within a vacant lot in the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision. Officials were hopeful the flow would bypass homes. (AP Photo/U.S. Geological Survey) -
This Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the lave flow from the June 27th flow from the Kilauea volcano passing near the Kaohe Homesteads in Pahoa, Hawaii. On Wednesday, the lava had advanced about 350 yards from the previous day within a vacant lot in the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision. Officials were hopeful the flow would bypass homes. (AP Photo/U.S. Geological Survey) -
This Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the lava flow from the June 27th flow from the Kilauea volcano passing near the Kaohe Homesteads in Pahoa, Hawaii. On Wednesday, the lava had advanced about 350 yards from the previous day within a vacant lot in the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision. Officials were hopeful the flow would bypass homes. (AP Photo/U.S. Geological Survey) -
This Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows a close-up view of the flow surface from the June 27th flow from the Kilauea volcano passing near the Kaohe Homesteads in Pahoa, Hawaii. On Wednesday, the lava had advanced about 350 yards from the previous day within a vacant lot in the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision. Officials were hopeful the flow would bypass homes. (AP Photo/U.S. Geological Survey)
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