Lava flow from Mauna Loa slows even as volcano continues to emit gas plumes

Officials warn lava advances could be highly variable over the coming days as flow crosses level ground

Hawaii's Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, that erupted last week for the first time in nearly four decades, continued to spew lava Saturday, though the flows have slowed to a crawl.

Fissure three in the volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii remains active and is feeding a lava flow advancing at an average rate of 150 feet an hour over the past 24 hours. Fissurefour is sluggish", the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said, while fissures one and two are no longer active.