Molten lava claims the last home in Royal Gardens, a small community on the southeastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Thick black lava covered the property of Jack Thompson, who was forced to evacuate Friday.
Thompson is no stranger to the process. In 1983, soon after he built his home on the island, a huge flow of lava threatened it but, fortunately, stopped right behind it, sparing the house.
This time is different.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT JACK THOMPSON SAYING:
"It's like a funeral. You know there are trees here that I've grafted and all of them were producing. Doesn't look like any of them are going to survive. This is just going to be a big piece of rock. Unbelievable."
Nearly 200 residents once lived in Royal Gardens but Thompson believes this community has run its course.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT JACK THOMPSON SAYING:
"I think it's about the end of it. I don't think anyone would be living up here anymore."
Large expanses of land have been buried by the lava over the past 26 years.A home in Royal Gardens was the first to be claimed by lava on the island, back in March 1983.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
