6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Hawai'i, Causes Disruptions
Hawaiʻi hit by strong quake near Mauna Loa; no tsunami but damages and aftershocks reported.
An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.0 shook Hawaiʻi on Friday evening at 9:46 p.m. It was initially reported as 5.9 but later updated.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there is no tsunami expected. However, some areas experienced strong shaking during the event.
The earthquake struck near the western side of Mauna Loa volcano, about 7 miles south of Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park in South Kona, at a depth of 22 km (13 miles).
Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense advised residents, saying, “As in all earthquakes, be aware of the possibility of aftershocks. If the earthquake was strongly felt in your area, check for any damages, including but not limited to structural and gas, water, and electrical utilities.”
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory wrote, “An earthquake at 9:46 p.m. HST was felt widely on the Island of Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Oahu. HVO is analyzing the event now and details on the magnitude, location, and depth will follow in an Information Statement within the hour.”
At 10:42 p.m., the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued an Information Statement, noting the earthquake had no impact on Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. The statement explained:
The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest that it was caused by stress due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain; the earthquake was not directly related to volcanic processes. Strong to very strong shaking was reported on the west side of the Island of Hawaiʻi during the earthquake that happened this evening and could have resulted in light to moderate damage to infrastructure. Please report any observed damage to the County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense Agency. Several aftershocks from the earthquake that happened this evening have already occurred. Most have been smaller than magnitude-3. Aftershocks may continue to occur in the coming days but are unlikely to be large enough to be felt or cause damage. We appreciate the more than 2,500 residents and visitors who submitted felt reports to the USGS website for this event; such reports help USGS and other responding agencies to understand the affected area and potential impacts of earthquakes.
Update:
Hawaiʻi County Hazard Impact Map showed that Napoʻopoʻo Road in South Kona was closed in both directions due to debris on the roadway.
Debris was also reported on Highway 11 near Hawaiian Ocean View Estates.
A water main break occurred on Highway 11 in South Kona at 11:06 p.m., causing water on the road. Additionally, landslides were reported along Highway 11 from Captain Cook to Ocean View.
Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense said, “There are reports of landslides along Highway 11 from Captain Cook to Ocean View. If you must get on the roads tonight drive with caution. Mahalo.”
AI contributed to the creation of this article.