(BIVN) – Leilani Estates residents are growing more concerned as constant earthquakes, ground cracks, and civil defense alerts follow an apparent intrusion of lava beneath their subdivision, into the Lower East Rift Zone.

According to an evening message from Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, scientists report “continuous low magnitude earthquake activity along the east rift zone in lower Puna which includes Leilani Estates, Nanawale Estates, to the coastal area of Kapoho.”

“Due to this activity Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory indicates an eruption is possible,” emergency officials say. “Because it is not possible to predict where an eruption could occur, the areas that could be affected are Nanawale Estates, Leilani Estates or Kapoho.”

County road crews blocked off Kahukai Street and Makamae Street in Leilani Estates on Wednesday, where small cracks suddenly appeared in the ground. Neighbors – and news media – began to congregate around the disturbance.

Petra Wiesenbauer, a resident and bed & breakfast owner in Leilani, recounted the constant rattling of earthquakes that have troubled the area over the last day.