The Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii erupted Thursday, scarring forests and sending plumes of ash thousands of feet into the sky.
Dramatic photos from the US Geological Survey show lava pouring into residential neighborhoods around a fissure that opened during the eruption.
Authorities ordered residents to evacuate on Friday as new fissures spewed lava and molten rock up to 100 feet in the air in the Leilani Estates subdivision, which sits within the Kilauea rift zone. The US Geological Survey further warned that more fissures may open up in the area in the coming days.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige issued an emergency proclamation ordering the National Guard to assist with evacuations.
Beyond the immediate fire danger from the lava, high levels of sulfur dioxide spewing from the volcano pose a serious threat to children, elderly people, and people with respiratory issues.
"It sounded like there were rocks in a dryer that were being tumbled around," Jeremiah Osuna, a local resident told The Washington Post. "You could hear the power of it pushing out of the ground."
Check out some of the stunning photos below.
SEE ALSO: Dramatic video shows lava bursting from the ground in Kilauea volcano eruption
The eruption occurred in the Leilani Estates subdivision of Hawaii's Puna district, a neighborhood within Kilauea's east rift zone.
A small fissure opened up around 5 p.m. local time, spewing lava and gas into the neighborhood and onto roads.
This fissure remained active for over an hour, scarring forests and forcing some residents to evacuate, though others have since opened.
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