USGS HVO Press Release — Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake North of Nā‘ālehu
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) recorded a magnitude-4.0 earthquakelocated in the Ka‘ū District of the Island of Hawai‘i on Sunday, October 12, at 6:43 p.m., HST.
According to Wes Thelen, HVO's Seismic Network Manager, this earthquake was centered about 11 km (7 mi) north of Nā‘ālehu at a depth of 5.4 km (3.4 mi). A map showing its location is posted on the HVO website at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/.
The earthquake was felt on the south part of the Island of Hawai‘i. The USGS "Did you feel it?" Web site (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/) received around 20 felt reports, mostly from the Nā‘ālehu area, within an hour of the earthquake. Only weak shaking (Intensity III) has been reported around the epicenter. At these shaking intensities, damage to buildings or structures is not expected.
No aftershocks of the magnitude-4.0 earthquake have been recorded as of 9:30 p.m.
Over the past 50 years, the area north of Nā‘ālehu has experienced 8 earthquakes, including today's event, with magnitudes greater than 4.0 and at depths of 0–10 km (0–6.2 mi).
The earthquake caused no detectable changes in Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing eruption or on Mauna Loa and other active volcanoes on the Island of Hawai‘i.
This event is a reminder for Hawaii residents to be prepared for earthquakes. The 2nd annual Great Hawaii Shakeout, scheduled for 10:16 a.m. on October 16, 2014, is an opportunity for people throughout the State to practice "Drop! Cover! Hold On!"—actions that are proven to reduce injury in an earthquake. For details, please visit shakeout.org/hawaii/.
For information on recent earthquakes in Hawaii and eruption updates, visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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Daily updates about ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, maps, and data about recent earthquakes in Hawaii are posted on the HVO website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo.
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