Overflowing lava covered about 28 acres of Halemaumau Crater floor since last week, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said.

The observatory released new photos of the lava lake and lava flows from Puu Oo vent taken during a helicopter overflight Tuesday.

Scientists said Wednesday morning that the lava lake remains at or near the rim of the crater on the floor of Halemaumau. Seismicity beneath the summit and upper East and Southeast Rift Zones remains active, with three earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 to 2.5 recorded Wednesday morning.

A small lava flow began flowing at Puu Oo Crater early Wednesday morning, as surface lava flows remained active northeast of the crater. Most of the surface lava are less than two miles from the vent, with the furthest flow about five miles northeast of the crater, far from populated areas. One flow is burning in a forest area.

Lava from Puu Oo approached the outskirts of Pahoa in September, but the flows stopped in March.

Over the last two weeks, the lava lake in Halemaumau rose to near the crater floor and overflowed. The sight of lava in Halemaumau, last visible from the crater rim in 1974, has drawn crowds of visitors to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, especially at night.