Quote:
Originally Posted by bananimal
Is it possible to erect a birm to contain and/or divert the flow from populated areas? Has this ever been attempted?
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There have been some attempts over the years, mostly with little success because of the sheer volume. There is also the issue that if they block it and it finds a new path to destroy homes and business it would not have hit if just left to flow. The reality is it could flow in this direction for decades, just as it mostly flowed in a different direction for 30 years. It's something like the equivalent of 1500 cement trucks full of lava per day. It's already dramatically impacted life around here and nearly 1000 have moved away to be somewhere closer to Hilo and away from the flow. They've also spent millions on alternate routes so we won't be cut off from all roads out, but they're all slow gravel roads so far, and they may well get covered eventually.