The continuous lava flow oozing from the Hawaii volcano’s Fissure 8 now covers 12.5 square miles, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has revealed.
New aerial video footage released by the USGS reveals the extent of the lava coverage, showing a river of molten rock seeping towards nearby Pohoiki.
Volcanic activity has destroyed more than 700 homes since Kilauea first started to erupt on May 3.
More than 2,000 islanders were forced to evacuate by the fast-moving lava flows, and many are still living in emergency temporary accommodation.
Hawaii’s Big Island has grown by nearly 700 acres, the equivalent for more than 500 football pitches, local sources confirmed.
Molten rock flowing into Kapoho Bay has cooled and solidified as it reaches the sea, creating the new land
A small new island has also been spotted off the coast, and is likely to have been caused by volcanic flow extending underwater away from the coastline and being forced upward by water pressure.
On Monday, a ‘lava bomb’ struck a tour boat who were witnessing the plume, injuring 23 people.
A total of 13 people were hospitalised after sustaining burns and one woman was left in a serious condition after the flying molten rock struck her in the leg, breaking her thigh bone.
The USGS was forced to deny that sister volcano Mauna Loa was erupting on Friday, after a fire nearby sparked fears.
The organisation tweeted: “Mauna Loa volcano is not erupting. There are fires reported west of mile marker 44 on the Saddle Road near the Pohakuloa Training Center. Mauna Loa volcano is not erupting.”
Geologists do not know when the Kilauea volcano will simmer down.
A USGS spokesman said: “We are confident that there is at least in excess of 100 times what has been erupted so far [still underground], so we would need years of the current eruption rate to empty the summit.”