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COURTESY USGS
This map shows the location of tonight’s magnitude 4.0 earthquake on the Big Island.
A magnitude 4.0 earthquake shook Hawaii island at 6:15 p.m. Thursday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about five miles east-northeast of Pahala and about 41 miles south-southwest of Hilo at a depth of about 21 miles.
The quake was too small to generate a tsunami, but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said “some areas may have experienced shaking.”
The quake was located in the southwest rift zone of Kilauea Volcano, according to the PTWC.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory acting scientist-in-charge David Phillips, said the earthquake had no observable impact on the ongoing eruption at Kilauea’s summit.
“This earthquake is part of the ongoing seismic swarm under the Pahala area, which started in August 2019,” he said in a news release Thursday night. “Unlike most events associated with this swarm, this earthquake was widely felt across the island of Hawaii, and as far away as Oahu. Please be aware that aftershocks are possible and may be felt. HVO continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.”
HVO said earlier Thursday that lava continues to erupt from a vent on the northwest side of Halemaumau crater at Kilauea’s summit. The seismicity remained elevated at the summit with steady tremors and a few minor earthquakes scientists said.
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