Hawaii eruption survivors say they want to return to homes
Posted March 17, 2019 7:19 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HILO, Hawaii — Survivors of a massive Hawaiian eruption say they want to return to their homes despite incomplete restoration work in the area.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Sunday that residents of the Puna district on the Big Island have begun moving back despite only partial access and restoration.
The eastern area was devastated by the May 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano that lasted months before lava flows cooled and created natural barriers across roads and other access points.
The paper reports that residents inside one isolated pocket use solar panel arrays, a water collection tank, and helicopter drops or hiking trips over the hardened flows for supplies.
Authorities in Hawaii County say a new path over the closest highway could take months to grade due to permitting and other requirements.
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Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
The Associated Press
