USGS HVO Press Release — Magnitude-4.4 Earthquake on the South Flank of Kīlauea Volcano

This earthquake was centered about 11 km (7 miles) southeast of Kīlauea's summit and 46 km (29 miles) south-southwest of Hilo, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The earthquake was widely felt on the Island of Hawai‘i.

This morning's earthquake occurred about 15 km (10 miles) west of the magnitude-5.4 earthquake on August 13, also located beneath the south flank of Kīlauea. Both this morning's and Monday's earthquakes occurred in areas of the south flank where many earthquakes of similar magnitudes have been located by HVO in the recent past.

Monday evening's magnitude-5.4 earthquake was in an area where 10 earthquakes of magnitude-4 or greater have been located in the past 25 years. Similarly, this morning's magnitude-4.4 earthquake was in an area where 12 earthquakes of magnitude-4 or greater have been located in the past 25 years. Historically both of these areas have shown increased seismic activity during eruptions or when magma intruded into the east rift zone, similar to the activity that has occurred along the rift zone in the past two months.

These earthquakes have not caused any apparent change to the current eruption of Kīlauea. Monitoring networks supported by HVO have not detected significant changes in activity at the summit or east rift zone of the volcano.

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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