Hawaii volcano: Shock video shows DEVASTATING river of lava surging towards Pohoiki

The extent of the destruction caused by the Hawaii volcano, Kilauea, is revealed in new aerial video footage of Fissure 8.

An astonishing 100 cubic metres of lava per second continues to gush from the fissure, flowing at over 14 miles per hour.

The immense river of lava now covers 12.5 square miles and extends eight miles to the coast.

Although southward expansion of the lava channel stalled over the weekend, a major surge on Sunday evening has sparked renewed fears for Pohoiki Bay, which sits perilously close to its entry point to the sea.

Hawaii’s Big Island has grown by nearly 700 acres, the equivalent of more than 500 football pitches, as a result of lava flowing into the sea and solidifying off the southeastern shore of the island.

Volcanic activity has destroyed more than 700 homes since Kilauea first started to erupt on May 3.

A report released by the United States Geological Survey earlier this month said: “If the ongoing eruption maintains its current style of activity at a high eruption rate, then it may take months to a year or two to wind down.”

More than 2,000 islanders were forced to evacuate as lava threatened their homes, and many remain in emergency temporary accommodation.

The USGS recorded a 5.2 magnitude earthquake on Friday after a crater wall collapsed at Kilauea’s summit.

On July 16, a ‘lava bomb’ struck a tour boat sailing close to the active lava flow, injuring 23 people.

A total of 13 people were hospitalised after sustaining burns and one woman was left in a serious condition after the flying molten rock struck her in the leg, breaking her thigh bone.

Tour boats have been advised to stay well clear of the area, as the USGS adds that “more explosions are possible.”