A massive river of lava is moving down Kilauea volcano on Hawaii s Big Island as the ongoing eruption intensifies, forcing more people out of their homes and injuring at least one man.

Hawaii County Civil Defense officials said that late Saturday night a lava flow moving at 300 feet-per-hour reached Highway 137 , one of the main highways in the Puna district. A section of the road was shut down.

The officials also reported that a lava flow had reached the Pacific Ocean. Lava entering the water creates laze, a type of volcanic gas that may endanger nearby residents.

Laze is formed when hot lava makes contact with the ocean, sending hydrochloric acid, steam and fine glass particles into the air.

Brushfires caused by the lava forced the agency to ask residents on Kamaili Road to evacuate the area immediately on Saturday around 6:40 p.m. local time. County and state firefighters were going door-to-door in that area informing residents of the evacuation and assisting them when necessary.

Everyone needs to stay clear of this area, the agency said.

The flows began forming on May 3, after several fissures opened up in the Leilani Estates subdivision of Puna, located on the volcanos lower east rift zone. Since then, at least 44 structures have been consumed by lava, including dozens of homes.

On Friday, lava engulfed four more homes and a flow from fissure 20 crossed a part of Pohoiki Road, near Malama Ki Place, cutting access to a remote neighborhood with 40 homes. As a result, four people had to be evacuated, according to officials.

Over the past two weeks, an estimated 1,700 residents have been evacuated from Leilani Estates and neighboring Lanipuna Estates subdivisions.