Residents evacuated after volcano eruption in Hawaii

More than 1,700 residents are being evacuated after Kilauea volcano erupted near a residential area on Hawaii’s largest island.

The eruption follows a series of strong earthquakes over recent days.

A volcanic crater vent – known as Puu Oo – collapsed earlier this week, sending lava down the mountain’s slopes towards populated areas.

Officials had been warning residents all week they should be prepared to evacuate as an eruption would give little warning.

Community centres have been opened to provide shelter with dangerous levels of sulphur dioxide gas being detected in the area.

Hawaii’s Governor David Ige says he has activated military reservists from the National Guard to help evacuate thousands of people.

Television pictures showed a line of lava fountains from Kilauea bursting up under a road and adjoining gardens.

Close-up footage shot by a drone showed lava emerging from a fissure in a wooded residential neighbourhood and oozing down a road.