The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded an offshore magnitude-4.6 earthquake southwest the Island of Hawaii at at 9:07 a.m. today.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded an offshore magnitude-4.6 earthquake southwest the Island of Hawaii at at 9:07 a.m. today.
The earthquake was centered about 52 miles southwest of Ka Lae (South Point) at a depth of 17 miles. A map showing its location is posted on the HVO website at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/earthquakes/.
Light shaking was reported across the Islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu. At that intensity, damage to buildings or structures is not expected.
The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest a source due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain, a common source for earthquakes in this area.
Aftershocks are possible and could be felt.
The earthquake caused no detectable changes to Kilauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
