It was hardly a reprieve, but residents said they'd take what they could get. On Monday, two new fissures opened up in Leilani Estates, spewing lava and toxic gases for several hours into the Puna subdivision.
And then, on Tuesday, authorities confirmed that lava activity had "paused" in the community. There were no lava fountains or flows — and no additional homes were reported claimed by eruptions.
It was welcome news for the hundreds of residents forced from their homes by the lava, which has already claimed at least 35 structures. But officials urged caution — a lull in activity doesn't mean that violent eruptions won't return.
"This is not over," said Janet Babb, a USGS geologist. "There's still magma within the rift zone. In the foreseeable future, this eruption is likely to continue."