Video shows Hawaii residents greeted by wall of lava flowing down street

Residents allowed to return for belongings need to be prepared to leave at any time

Residents returning to check on their homes were greeted by a wall of lava making its way down a street in Hawaii.

The lava has emerged from cracks in the ground, and is burning anything in its path.

Rivers of lava from Kilauea have already accounted for entire neighbourhoods, and those of the 1,700 evacuees from the Leilani Estates neighbourhood on Big Island who returned home during the lull on Sunday and Monday to retrieve animals, medication and important possessions were warned to be prepared to flee at any moment.

Since Kilauea began exploding on Thursday, 12 volcanic vents have opened, sending large flows of lava into nearby residential areas.

Lava has spread around 387,500 square feet (36,000 square meters) around the most active fissure, though the rate of movement is slow.

There was no indication when the lava might stop or how far it might spread.

So far, no deaths or major injuries have been reported.