UPDATE: No Tsunami Threat After 5+ Kīlauea Earthquake

UPDATE: June 8, 8:36 a.m.

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded a magnitude-5.3 earthquake (preliminary report was 5.1) located beneath Kīlauea Volcano’s south flank on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at 7:01 a.m. HST.

The earthquake, which was widely felt on the Island of Hawai‘i, was located about 11.2 miles southeast of Volcano at a depth of 5 miles. A map showing the location of the earthquake is posted on HVO’s website.

The USGS “Did you feel it?” website received almost 800 felt reports within the first hour of the earthquake. The maximum intensity of shaking reported by Island of Hawai‘i residents was V on the Mercalli Intensity Scale, indicating moderate shaking.

The maximum intensity of shaking reported by Island of Hawai‘i residents was V on the Mercalli Intensity Scale, indicating moderate shaking.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake. As of the publication time of this article, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense has not received any reports of damage.

There have been at least 15 aftershocks following this morning’s magnitude-5.3 earthquake.

Kīlauea’s south flank has been the site of 29 earthquakes of magnitude-4.0 or greater during the past 25 years. Most are caused by abrupt motion of the volcano’s south flank, which moves to the southeast over the oceanic crust as a result of magma being injected into the East Rift Zone and long-term settling of the volcano. The location and depth for today’s earthquake are consistent with slip along or above this south flank fault.

According to HVO Scientist-in-Charge Christina Neal the earthquake had no apparent effect on Kīlauea Volcano’s ongoing eruptions.

“HVO monitoring networks have not detected any significant changes in activity at the summit or along the rift zones of Kīlauea or at other Hawaiian volcanoes resulting from the earthquake,” said Neal.

PREVIOUS POST: June 8, 7:50 a.m.

There is no tsunami expected after a preliminary magnitude 5.1 earthquake that occurred on the south flank of Kīlauea Volcano on the Big Island at 7:01 a.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

The earthquake was not large enough to cause a tsunami for the Island or State of Hawai‘i.

As in all earthquakes, be aware of the possibility of aftershocks.

If the earthquake was strongly felt in your area, precautionary checks should be made for any damages, especially to utility connections of gas, water and power.

Location with respect to nearby cities:
18 km (11 mi) SE of Volcano, Hawai‘i
33 km (20 mi) SSW of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawai‘i
45 km (27 mi) S of Hilo, Hawai‘i
99 km (61 mi) ESE of Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i
361 km (223 mi) SE of Honolulu, Hawai‘i

According to the USGS Did You Feel It Website, nearly 50 people reported feeling the quake in the Hilo area and 24 reported feeling it in Kea‘au.  Results as of 7:26 a.m. are posted below: