All 1,500 inhabitants of Pahoa town were told to leave after steam and lava poured out of a crack in the nearby Leilani Estates. Lava spurted into the sky from the road and a line of lava began to burn a forest nearby. On Friday afternoon, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit the island followed by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake about an hour later.
Residents had been warned for the last week that they should prepare to evacuate, with officials saying an eruption would give little warning. Nearby community centres were providing shelter.
Officials said it was impossible to predict how long the volcanic eruption would last. The volcano had burned two homes, according to Hawaiian authorities.
