Hawaii Island residents were shaken awake Monday after a magnitude-4.7 earthquake struck in waters off Ka‘u
The temblor was recorded at 6:06 a.m. and was located 12.4 miles southeast of Naalehu and had a recorded depth of 21.7 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).
Light shaking, with maximum Intensity of IV, has been reported across parts of the Big Island. At that intensity, significant damage to buildings or structures is not expected. The USGS “Did you feel it?” service received over 534 felt reports within the three hours of the earthquake. Residents as far away as Mililani and Kaneohe, Oahu, reported having felt the temblor.
The earthquake had no apparent effect on Kilauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes, according to HVO acting-Scientist-in-Charge David Phillips.
“We see no detectable changes in activity at the summits or along the rift zones of Mauna Loa or Kilauea as a result of this earthquake. Aftershocks are possible and could be felt,” he said.
The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest a source due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain, a common source for earthquakes in this area, according to HVO. Aftershocks are possible and could be felt.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there was no tsunami threat from this earthquake.