River Of Fire

Horror struck Hawaii’s Big Island when a volcano erupted, destroying homes, forcing evacuations and striking terror into the hearts of locals

- Jane Vorster

SHE COULDN’T believe her eyes. Just metres from her home the road was cracking and searing hot lava was bubbling up from Earth’s core, threatening the lives of everyone she holds dear.

Having lived on Hawaii’s Big Island all her life, Maija Stenback had accepted the rumblings of the Kilauea volcano as part of life. But this time it was different – she knew there was big trouble coming.

“I’ve lived through a lot of lava flows here but never this close before,” she says. “You could feel it all the way into the core of your being. It’s just that roaring and unbelievable power of the lava bubbling up and spitting up into the air.”