A fissure was captured spewing lava in the aftermath of Kilauea volcano eruption on Hawaii’s Big Island on May 12, 2018, in Pahoa, Hawaii. Hawaii Governor David Ige sent a letter to the White House, asking US President Donald Trump to formally declare an emergency, estimating the costs to protect local residents could exceed 2.9 million US dollars. /VCG Photo

“Lava from this latest outbreak is actively spattering,” the US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. “The volcanic vents, or fissures, have released slow-moving lava and toxic gas into island communities, gobbling up dozens of homes and vehicles.” /VCG Photo

The volcano, which has been spitting lava for over a week, has destroyed more than two dozen homes and threatened a geothermal plant. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park around the volcano announced that it would close because of the risk. /VCG Photo

About 2,000 residences have been evacuated from the neighborhoods since lava has oozed from the ground. /VCG Photo