HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT

U.S. Geological Survey

Friday, April 15, 2022, 3:34 AM HST (Friday, April 15, 2022, 13:34 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)

19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE



KĪLAUEA INFORMATION STATEMENT



The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) recorded a magnitude-4.3 earthquake on Friday, April 15,  at 01:58:25 a.m., HST, followed eight seconds later by a magnitude-4.6 earthquake at 01:58:33 a.m., HST.; both were located northeast of Pāhala on the Island of Hawai‘i.



The magnitude-4.3 earthquake was centered about 8 km (5 miles) northeast of Pāhala, at a depth of 34 km (21 miles). The magnitude-4.6 earthquake was centered about 9 km (6 miles) northeast of Pāhala, at a depth of 32 km (20 miles) slightly to the southeast of the first earthquake. A map showing the location is posted on the HVO website at http://usgs.gov/hvo. More details are available at the National Earthquake Information Center website at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv72984557 (M4.3) and https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv72984552 (M4.6).



Strong shaking, with maximum Intensity of VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, has been reported across parts of the Island of Hawai‘i. At that intensity, significant damage to buildings or structures is not expected. The USGS "Did you feel it?" service (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) received over 400 felt reports within the first hour of the earthquakes.



According to HVO geophysicist, Jefferson Chang, these earthquakes had no apparent effect on Kīlauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes. “This earthquake appears to be part of the seismic swarm under the Pāhala area, which has been going on since 2019. Earthquakes in this region have been observed at least as far back as the 1960s (https://www.usgs.gov/news/volcano-watch-why-do-so-many-deep-earthquakes-happen-around-pahala). We see no detectable changes in activity at the summits or along the rift zones of Mauna Loa or Kīlauea as a result of these earthquakes. Please be advised that aftershocks are occurring and some of these may be large enough to be felt.” HVO continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.



For information on recent earthquakes in Hawaii and eruption updates, visit the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at  http://usgs.gov/hvo/.



More Information:

Kīlauea activity summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862

Kīlauea webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams

Kīlauea photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia

Kīlauea lava-flow maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/maps

Kīlauea FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/faqs



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Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/

Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards

Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo

Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes







CONTACT INFORMATION:



askHVO@usgs.gov



The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi.