4.3 Magnitude Earthquake Recorded Near Kilauea Summit

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded by the United States Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at 8:16 a.m.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, no tsunami was generated by the activity.

West Thelen, HVO’s Seismic Network Manager said, “the earthquake was centered about 5 miles west-south west of the summit of Kilauea at a depth of about 8 miles.”

More than  80 felt reports were recorded in a two hour span on the USGS “Did you feel it?” website. Reports came from across the island, but officials say the mass majority of the reports were from Volcano Village.

The self-reported data indicated that residents who felt the earthquake experienced only weak shaking. At such mild intensities, damage to structures is generally not expected.

Five aftershocks have were recorded as of 10 a.m. Monday, according to HVO. The strongest of the aftershocks was a magnitude of 1.

Over the course of the past 25 years, the area in the vicinity of Monday’s earthquake has experienced two additional earthquakes that were over magnitudes of 3.0 with depths of 6-12 miles.

HVO personnel believe that the earthquake could lie on a fault line that marks the boundary between Mauna Loa and Kilauea. It is also possible that the earthquake occurred on a reactive fault within the old oceanic crust that the Big Island was built upon.

During an 11:30 a.m. lava media briefing, HVO’s Janet Babb told reporters that the earthquake does not seem to have had any impact on the June 27 lava flow.