USGS HVO Information Statement — Magnitude-4.1 on Kīlauea Volcano’s south flank, Island of Hawai‘i 

The earthquake was centered about 13 km (8 miles) south of Fern Forest, near the Hōlei Pali area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at a depth of 6 km (4 miles). A map showing its location is posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/about-earthquakes-hawaii. More details are available at the National Earthquake Information Center website at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv72337977/. 

Weak to light shaking, with maximum Intensity of IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, has been reported across the Island of Hawai‘i.  At that intensity, damage to buildings or structures is not expected.  The USGS "Did you feel it?" service (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) received over 270 felt reports within the first hour of the earthquake.  

According to HVO Deputy Scientist-in-Charge David Phillips, the earthquake had no immediate observable impact on the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea’s summit at the time of this Information Statement. “This earthquake was widely felt across the Island of Hawai‘i. Please be aware that aftershocks are possible and may be felt. HVO continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.”  

Kīlauea's south flank has been the site of over 30 earthquakes of magnitude-4.0 or greater during the past 20 years. Most are caused by abrupt motion of the volcano's south flank, which moves to the southeast over the oceanic crust. The location, depth, and waveforms recorded as part of today's earthquake are consistent with motion along the south flank detachment fault.  

For information on recent earthquakes in Hawaii and eruption updates, visit the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes.