Lava flows and a series of earthquakes, have now been followed by large clouds of toxic fumes and tiny glass-like particles known as "laze", from Hawaii's erupting volcano, Kilauea.

Authorities warned the public to stay away from the caustic plumes, caused by a chemical reaction when lava poured into the Pacific ocean.

Lava has also continued to gush out of large cracks in the ground in residential neighbourhoods, while two explosive eruptions unleashed clouds of ash from the volcano's summit.

The rate of sulphur dioxide gas being emitted from large cracks in the ground in these areas has also tripled, leading the county of Hawaii to repeat warnings about air quality.

Here The Independent looks at the volcano's activity.

When did Kilauea first erupt?

The volcano has been in constant eruption for the last 35 years. It is one of the most active of the five volcanoes on Hawaii’s Big Island.

It typically blows off basaltic lava which flows into the ocean, but has occasionally unleashed more explosive and damaging eruptions.

Earlier this month, the island was shaken by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, the strongest it had seen since 1975.

What damage has it caused so far?

Slow moving lava in Hawaii makes its way towards the sea

Around 2,000 people have been evacuated from their homes after Kilauea started spewing lava into residential areas and a series of earthquakes shook the island.

So far, 22 fissures have opened up and around 40 structures, including two dozen homes, have been burned.

One man was injured when he was struck in the leg by a flying piece of lava.

“It hit him on the shin and shattered everything there down on his leg," said a spokesperson for the county’s mayor.

The volcano’s summit has also emitted a periodic eruption of ash, volcanic rock and toxic gases.

Hawaii volcano Lava seeps from fissures in the ground in aerial video

Laze, a term combining the words “lava” and “haze,” is a mix of hydrochloric acid fumes, steam and fine volcanic glass specks.

It is created when erupting lava, which can reach temperatures exceeding 1,000C, reacts with seawater. Potential hazards include lung damage, as well as eye and skin irritation.

The eruption has also fed a phenomenon called “vog,” a hazy mix of sulphur dioxide, aerosols, moisture and dust, with fine particles which can travel deep into the lungs, the USGS said.

Have we seen the worst of the eruption?

Lava flows past trees on the outskirts of Pahoa during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii (REUTERS)

Those who were forced to evacuate from their homes may not be able to return for some time, scientists have warned.

Further eruptions and earthquakes have been forecast, perhaps for “weeks or months” to come.

Lava flows into the ocean near Pahoa, Hawaii (AP Photo/Jae C Hong)

Officials at the Hawaii Volcano Authority have warned hotter and more viscous lava could be on the way, with fountains spurting as high as 600ft (182m) into the air, as seen in an eruption in 1955.

However, tourism officials on the islands have said there is no reason for visitors to change their plans for booked trips.

The Hawaii Tourism Agency said only Big Island, or Hawai’i, is affected by the fallout from Kilauea.

Does it still pose a danger to residents, are further evacuations necessary?

Sulphur dioxide plumes rise from fissures along the rift and accumulating in the cloud deck of the Kilauea volcano (US Geological Survey via AP) (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

A small eruption occurred at Kilaueau’s summit earlier this week, producing an ash plume which reached around 7,000ft (2,134m).

Wind carried the ash plume to the southwest, officials said, towards the communities of Wood Valley, Pahala, Naalehu and Waiohinu.

Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Show all 30 1 /30 Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Channelized lava emerges on Kilauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on Hawaii. The USGS said on its website that "a fast-moving pahoehoe lava flow that emerged from fissure 20... continues to flow southeast," with the quickest of three "lobes" progressing at 230 yards (210 meters) per hour. AFP/US Geological Survey Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava erupts and flows from a Kilauea volcano fissure in Leilani Estates, on Hawaii's Big Island Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A plume of ash rises from a crater in the Mount Kilauea volcano after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the area, near Pahoa, Hawaii EPA/USGS HANDOUT Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Kilauea has opened 14 lava-and-gas spewing fissures in total Rex Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures United States Geological Survey Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava from a Kilauea volcano fissure advances up a residential street in Leilani Estates, on Hawaii's Big Island, on May 27, 2018 in Pahoa, Hawaii Mario Tama/Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A massive flow of lava consumes houses in Leilani Estates EPA/PARADISE HELICOPTERS Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava flows past trees on the outskirts of Pahoa during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. REUTERS Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A plume of ash rises from Kilauea Volcano after a series of earthquakes over the last couple of days USGS/Handout via Reuters Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava emerges from the ground after Kilauea Volcano erupted Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Steam rises from a fissure on a road in Leilani Estates subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island AFP/Getty Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures This thermal image (looking south) shows the active overflows from the lava lake (upper left) onto the Halema'uma'u crater floor. View is toward the south. Rex Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures The results of the eruption from Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava is seen coming from a fissure in Leilani Estates subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures An aerial view of a flow of lava moves to the doorsteps of the Puna Geothermal Venture facility after a new fissure eruption within Leilani Estates sending a fast moving flow of lava began to consume homes and property, near Pahoa, Hawaii EPA/BRUCE OMORI/Paradise Helicopters Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Smoke rises from the Pu'u 'O'o crater on the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii EPA Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Up to 10,000 people were ordered to evacuate as flows of red lava entered residential areas Reuters Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A fissure erupts in Leilani Estates, one of the communities most vulnerable to Hawaii's Kilauea volcano AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Smoke billows from Pu'u 'O'o crater on the Hawaii's Big Island EPA Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Remote image released by U.S. Geological Survey, shows a new lava fissure on Kilauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on Makamae and Leilani Streets USGS via AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Kilauea volcano's Pu'u O'o vent on Hawaii's main island AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava flows over a road in the Puna District as a result of the eruption from Kilauea on Hawaii's Big Island Byron Matthews via AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Kilauea volcano erupts AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava flowing over Mohala Street in the Leilani Estates area near Pahoa Hawaii Electric Light via AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures An aerial view of a massive surface flow entering the sea at Malama Flats EPA Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Satellite photo provided by DigitalGlobe shows lava coming out of fissures caused by Kilauea AP via DigitalGlobe Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures The fissure complex, pictured in the upper right, continues to feed a meandering lava flow (in the center). into the Pacific Ocean in southeast of Pahoa during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii REUTERS Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava erupts from a Kilauea volcano fissure Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A U.S. National Guard soldier (R) takes photos as lava erupts and flows from a Kilauea volcano fissure in Leilani Estates, on Hawaii's Big Island Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures This is a horizontal, royalty free stock photograph of a glowing lava tube opening from the Kilauea volcano in Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. Photographed with a Nikon D800 DSLR camera. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Lava flows from Kilauea have poured across major roads, cutting off evacuation routes. With Highway 137 severed, authorities have been trying to open up the nearby Highway 11, which was blocked by almost a mile of lava in 2014, to serve as an alternative escape route.