Did you feel it? Magnitude-3.9 quake shakes Big Island

A magnitude-3.9 earthquake shook the Big Island shortly after 11:30 a.m. Sunday, April 5.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that the temblor struck about 2 miles east-northeast of Pāhala in Kaʻū on the south-southeast side of the island at a depth of just 2 miles.

It had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

“This earthquake is likely related to the seismic swarm under the Pāhala area, which has been going on since 2019,” said Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in an information statement at about 1 p.m. Sunday. “Earthquakes in this region have been observed at least as far back as the 1960s.”

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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes. Aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION

• Magnitude: 3.9
• Time and date: 11:41 a.m. April 5
• Location: 2 miles east-northeast of Pāhala in Ka’u on the Big Island
• Depth: 2 miles below sea level

EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY AND AFFECTED AREA

• Potential damage: No damage to buildings or infrastructure expected based on earthquake intensity
• Maximum intensity, based on modified Mercalli Scale:
  • Community-reported: III – weak shaking
  • Instrument-derived: IV – light shaking
• Felt reports: More than 50 within the first half an hour of the event
• Felt area: Around Hawaiʻi Island
• Farthest away felt: At least 1 “Felt Report” from Honokaʻa, a little more than 58 miles away from the earthquake’s center to the northeast

EARTHQUAKE MAPS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center maps and reports for this event
• U.S. Geological Survey-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory interactive earthquake map of Hawaiʻi