More than a thousand people reported feeling a magnitude-5.2 earthquake that struck Monday afternoon off the Hamakua Coast.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded the temblor at 1:43 p.m. about 3 miles north and offshore of Waipi‘o Valley at a depth of 17 miles. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami was not triggered by the earthquake.
Strong shaking, with a maximum intensity of V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, was reported across the districts of Kohala. At that intensity, significant damage to buildings or structures is not expected. The USGS “Did You Feel It?” service received 1,100 felt reports within the first hour of the earthquake. Felt reports were reported as far away as Kauai.
According to HVO Scientist-in-Charge Ken Hon, the earthquake had no observable impact on Kilauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes.
“This earthquake is related to stress from the weight of the island on the underlying ocean crust and mantle. These earthquakes are relatively common and not directly related to volcanic processes. Please be aware that aftershocks are possible and may be felt,” Hon said. The Alert Levels/Color Codes remained at advisory/yellow for Kilauea and Mauna Loa as of press-time Monday.
The largest previous earthquake in the area was a magnitude-4.2 that occurred on Oct. 30, 2010, and was located 4 miles east of Kukuihaele at a depth 21 miles.