USGS HVO Information Statement — Magnitude-4.2 earthquake west of the Island of Hawai‘i

The earthquake was located 72 km (45 mi) west-northwest of Kalaoa, Hawaiʻi at a depth of 1 km (0.6 mi). A map showing the earthquake location is posted on HVO's website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/earthquakes. More details are available at the National Earthquake Information Center website at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv72569232/.

Weak shaking, with a maximum intensity of III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, has been reported on the west side of the Island of Hawai‘i and on Maui. At that intensity, significant damage to buildings or structures is not expected. The USGS “Did you feel it?” website (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) received over 75 felt reports within the first hour of the earthquake.

According to HVO Scientist-in-Charge Ken Hon, “the earthquake was likely due to readjustment of the oceanic plate from the weight of the island chain and poses no significant hazard. The earthquake had no apparent effect on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that no tsunami was generated by the earthquake.”

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