National Guard troops arriving in a Hawaii town threatened by a slow-moving river of molten lava have been greeted with cheers by residents.
The 83 local troops are to provide security as the volcanic flow advances on the Big Island community, and will be working to take care of their family and friends.
The lava flow from the Kilauea volcano has been slithering toward the village of Pahoa for weeks.
However the director of Hawaii County Civil Defense, Darryl Oliveria, says the lava flow had slowed yesterday to a turtles pace, and at last watch had advanced only a few meters.
The lava threatens to destroy homes and cut off a road and a highway through Pahoa, but officials have not offered any predictions on when exactly it could bisect the town of about 800 residents.
No homes have been destroyed so far, although residents have expressed concern about potential looters targeting evacuated homes.
This image provided by the US Geological Survey shows a breakout of ropey pāhoehoe lava from the volcano in Pahoa, Hawaii, upslope of Apaʻa Street burning vegetation near the Pāhoa transfer station. Photo: AFP / HANDOUT / US Geological Survey