The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) recorded an offshore magnitude-4.5 earthquake south the Island of Hawaii at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
A tsunami warning was never issued.
According to Brian Shiro, HVO’s Seismic Network Manager, the earthquake was centered about 59 km (37 miles) south of Ka Lae (South Point) at a depth of 36.5 km (22.7 mi).
The earthquake was felt on the Island of Hawaii, with the the USGS “Did you feel it?” Web site (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) receiving over 50 felt reports within an hour of the earthquake. Weak shaking, with maximum Intensity of III, has been reported across the island. At that intensity, damage to buildings or structures is not expected.
The earthquake caused no detectable changes in Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing eruptions, on Mauna Loa, or at other active volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii.