There may be more large aftershocks in Hawaii following Friday's 6.9 magnitude earthquake associated with the eruption of the Kilauea Volcano, the Volcano Observatory is warning.
The observatory said the eruption of lava and gas continued along the volcano's lower east rift zone within the Leilani Estates subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island.
Fissure eruptions had been continuous since late yesterday evening and a lava flow had advanced northward by nearly one kilometre, it said.
An observatory spokesperson said a deflationary tilt at the summit of the volcano continued and the level of the lava lake was still dropping.
"Aftershocks from Friday's magnitude-6.9 earthquake continue and more should be expected, with larger aftershocks potentially producing rockfalls and associated ash clouds above Puʻu ʻŌʻō and Halemaʻumaʻu crater," the spokesperson said.
"Seismicity at Kīlauea's summit remains elevated."
The number of homes destroyed by the volcano climbed to more than 20 today as scientists reported lava spewing more than 60 metres in the air.
Nearly 2000 people had been evacuated as lava destroyed houses and sulphur dioxide gas levels rose to dangerous levels.
Officials said most of the destroyed homes were in the Leilani Estates subdivision, where molten rock, toxic gas and steam had been bursting through openings in the ground created by the volcano.
Some of those evacuated were allowed back to their homes briefly today to rescue pets and retrieve valuables.
But a number locals, including Cheryl Griffiths, were refusing to leave their properties.
"Living here, that's the gamble that you take is to have all this beauty. And you've got to just know that you live on an active volcano," Ms Griffiths told CBS News.
