Hawaii lava flows gather speed, heat as officials worry over escape routes

HONOLULU - The hottest and fastest-moving lava of Kilauea volcano's latest eruption spread across new parts of the Big Island on Wednesday, forcing officials to order evacuations in two coastal neighborhoods over fears that the rapidly advancing flows could cut off dwindling escape routes.

Overnight, the lava was moving fast enough to cover about six football fields an hour, according to US Geological Survey scientist Wendy Stovall.

"Hawaii County Civil Defense decided to evacuate all of lower Puna to ensure that people would be able to get out," Stovall said.