Lava flow from the Kilauea volcano that officials have been keeping a close watch on was last reported to be 70 yards from the nearest home. The lava moved onto the private land of a home on the outskirts of the Pahoa village.

Local residents must be prepared to evacuate as the lava flows closer to their property. The County of Hawaii said in a civil defense alert that evacuation and smoke advisories have been issued.

Apaa Street resident Imelda Raras said she and her husband are ready to go to a friend's home if officials tell them they should leave, according to The Weather Channel.

"We are still praying," she said. "I hope our home will be spared."

Lava has been spurting out of the volcano since the end of June. In late September, it came to a standstill only to pick up again a few weeks ago. According to Reuters, the lava has moved about 275 yards since Sunday morning.

Pahoa village, a historic former sugar plantation, is at jeopardy. The town's small shops and homes may be destroyed if the flow continues to get closer. The 100-yard leading edge of the flow is heading straight towards the village that's home to about 800 people.  

Authorities who are monitoring the lava flow around the clock say it is advancing about 10 to 15 yards an hour.

As the main road has been blocked, workers are trying to build temporary access roads. The main goal is to project a major route traveled by as many as 10,000 cars a day, Highway 130.

If there is no access to the roads in the state of an emergency, the lava flow would block about 8,000 people in the Puna district from escaping.

The Kilauea volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983. For the past two years, lava has flowed northeast as opposed to flowing south as it has in all previous years.