Hawaii's Kilauea volcano shoots lava into the sky, sending rivers of molten rock into the ocean

75 homes have been completely covered by lava, forcing of thousands to flee

Media | Authorities warn residents near Hawaii volcano of mandatory evacuation order

Caption: Deadline set for noon June 1, after which rescuers say they won't venture into affected areas

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Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has captivated people around the world by shooting lava high into the sky and sending rivers of molten rock pouring down hillsides into the ocean over the past month.
Scroll down for a look at some of the most stunning images from this historic eruption so far.

Image | HAWAII Kilauea VOLCANO lower east rift zone eruption

Caption: (Bruce Omori/EPA)

Kilauea's lower east rift zone continues to erupt, as Fissure 8 spews lava at a high rate, feeding a massive river that meanders toward the coast in Pahoa, Hawaii.
The slow pace of the flow has geologists concerned, as it is increasing in height, and any breach in the dike could send a flood of lava laterally.

Image | HAWAII VOLCANO Kilauea lava flow

Caption: (Marco Garcia/Reuters)

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the immediate area surrounding the raised channel.

Image | HAWAII VOLCANO Volcanic gases rise from Kilauea lava flow

Caption: (Marco Garcia/Reuters)

Volcanic gases can be seen above rising from the Kilauea lava flow that crossed Pohoiki Road near Pahoa, Hawaii, on Monday.
Below, lava from Kilauea's lower east rift zone spills into the ocean.

Image | HAWAII Kilauea VOLCANO lava flows spilling into the ocean

Caption: (U.S. Geological Survey/EPA)

Lava advances

Image | HAWAII VOLCANO lava advances lava fountain at Kilauea

Caption: (U.S. Geological Survey/Reuters)

Lava erupts from a fissure and travels toward homes at Leilani Estates in Pahoa.

Image | HAWAII Kilauea VOLCANO Lava erupts and travels toward house

Caption: (Bruce Omori/EPA)

Image | Hawaii Kilauea volcano lava advances up street

Caption: (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Lava flow timelapse

Image | Hawaii Kilauea volcano timelapse

Caption: This graphic shows a timelapse of the lava flow from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano since it started erupting at the beginning of May. (CBC)

Fire and water

Image | HAWAII Kilauea VOLCANO Lava flows into the ocean

Caption: (Bruce Omori/EPA)

Lava flows into the ocean after erupting from a fissure at Kilauea's lower east rift zone.

Image | HAWAII VOLCANO massive surface flow entering the ocean

Caption: (Bruce Omori/EPA)

Kilauea's summit

An aerial view of Kilauea Volcano's summit caldera and an ash plume billowing from Halema'uma'u, a crater within the caldera, May 27.

Image | HAWAII Kilauea VOLCANO summit caldera and ash plume

Caption: (U.S. Geological Survey/Reuters)

Lighting up the sky

A lava flow from the Kilauea volcano illuminates the night sky near Pahoa on May 26.

Image | HAWAII Kilauea VOLCANO lava flow illuminated night sky

Caption: (Marco Garcia/Reuters)

Tech Sgt. Andrew Lee Jackson, of the Hawaii National Guard, takes photos of the Kilauea lava flow in Leilani Estates near Pahoa.

Image | HAWAII Kilauea VOLCANO lava flow Leilani Estates

Caption: (Marco Garcia/Reuters)

Fountains of lava

Several residents of Leilani Estates watch fountaining at Fissure 7 from the bed of an abandoned vehicle in their friend's backyard.

Image | USA HAWAII VOLCANO residents watch fountaining at fissure 7

Caption: (Bruce Omori/EPA)

A massive, fast-moving lava flow consumes everything in its path in Pahoa on May 19. The flames from the remnants of one home can be seen on the left, while the lava flow approaches another on the right.

Image | HAWAII VOLCANO fast moving lava flow

Caption: (Bruce Omori/EPA)