Seismic activity around Kīlauea continues; no signs of imminent eruption at this time

Seismic activity at Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone is still elevated but has continued at a decreased rate.

According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, there are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time, and there are no significant changes in activity in the lower East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone.

Earthquakes began rattling the upper East Rift Zone on Tuesday morning. Over the past 24 hours, there have been approximately 57 earthquakes in the region, extending from Puhimau Crater southeast to Maunaulu.

Most earthquakes have been smaller than M2.0. Events have remained at depths of 0.6–1.8 miles beneath the surface. Most earthquakes have been too small to feel, but several were reported felt in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and surrounding communities.

Approximately 33 earthquakes were detected beneath Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera) over the past 24 hours at depths of 0.6–1.9 miles below the ground surface with magnitudes of less than M2.0. Rates of deformation at the summit remained relatively low with minor local deflation, likely in response to unrest in the upper East Rift Zone.

Earthquake activity was accompanied by elevated rates and changing patterns of ground deformation recorded by the ESC tiltmeter northeast of Pauahi Crater in Kīlauea’s UERZ on Tuesday. Deformation the past two days is relatively level (flat).

Activity in the middle East Rift Zone remains low. Earthquake locations are scattered around Makaopuhi crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Depths range from 0.6–1.9 miles below the ground surface with magnitudes less than M2.0. There has been no significant change in deformation at the POC tiltmeter overnight. GPS instruments continue to record inflation in the region.

Magma has recently re-established a path to Kīlauea’s middle East Rift Zone. Unrest could potentially extend to the middle rift zone area with continued magma supply.

At this time, there is no evidence of seismicity or ground deformation beneath the lower East Rift Zone, and Southwest Rift Zone activity remains low. Current activity is restricted to the summit and upper East Rift Zone region.