Molten lava from a Hawaii volcano just burnt an empty house to the ground in 45 minutes after slowly oozing towards the quiet community for months, Fox News reported on Tuesday.
Firefighters didn't intervene as the fire overtook the 1,100-square-foot structure as a family member of the homeowner took out this iPhone and recorded the process.
Scientists have been warning about the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island since August, and the first home destruction is expected to not be the last.
"The lava spread out and ignited the house before noon local time," said US Geological Survey spokeswoman Janet Baab, according to CNN. "There are no other homes in imminent danger. We are watching the flow closely and continue to monitor it."
A garage and barn that are standing near the burnt home could also be hit by the lava soon. The homeowner's closest neighbor is a half-mile away, according to Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense director.
Pahoe, the largest town on Big Island, had been in the lava's path since it broke through a vent in June. It burnt mostly plants and trees in Puna on Oct. 26, but since then, it's melted sections of a cemetery and set a garden shed ablaze. Metal materials and automobile tires were also destroyed.
The front section of the lava flowed around the home and missed it, but a blob of lava broke away from the right and widened upslope, eventually flowing into the house. The lavas path, and how long it'll take to get there, is unknown.
The home's estimated value before it was destroyed was about $200,000. In August, the occupants had left.
For insurance and emotional purposes, the government is expected to allow homeowners to watch the homes be destroyed and record it for insurance companies. Self-started evacuations have already begun and other residents say they're ready to go if instructed.
Imelda Raras lives on the other end of the street from the lava-burned house. Most of the family's belongings are already in storage and will be staying at a friend's house if the lava approaches.
"I'm scared right now," she said as she watched smoke from the burning house. "What will happen next? We will be waiting."
